Spinal Injections

Spinal injections are generally suggested to alleviate severe pain and inflammation caused by spinal conditions, such as a bulging or herniated disc, facet joint disease, spinal stenosis, or inflamed ligaments. These and other conditions may cause painful nerve compression, which can trigger the release of specific enzymes that provoke the inflammation of surrounding tissues. While many cases of mild to moderate spinal pain can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are taken orally, your doctor may suggest spinal injections as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool. These injections deliver medications directly in or near the compressed spinal cord or nerve root causing pain.

Types

Your doctor may choose from and administer specific types of spinal injections to help pinpoint the exact nerves that are causing pain and inflammation, including:

• Selective nerve root blocks – Anesthetic and steroidal medications are injected into or near a spinal nerve root.
• Epidural steroid injections – An injection of steroids and anesthetic are delivered into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. The epidural space contains spinal fluid, which then circulates the medications throughout the central nervous system.
• Facet joint injections – These types of injections are delivered inside an arthritic facet joint, or to one or more medial branch nerves that innervate the joint.

If pain dissipates immediately after one or more spinal injections are complete, the doctor has discovered the problem nerve and can suggest additional helpful treatments.

Laser Spine Institute

Spinal injections may offer some people temporary relief from pain. In some cases, injections may not alleviate the symptoms associated with back and neck conditions. If you’ve exhausted all conservative, or non-invasive, treatments and are still experiencing pain, consider the minimally invasive procedures offered at Laser Spine Institute. As the leader in endoscopic spine surgery, Laser Spine Institute has helped tens of thousands of people find relief from back and neck pain.

For more information and to schedule a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan, contact Laser Spine Institute.