Spine Injections

Spinal Injections Q & A

What is a spinal injection?

A spinal injection is used for both diagnosis and treatment. Spinal injections can diagnose the source of pain in your legs, back, neck, or arms. At the same time, spinal injections can relieve pain by administering a dose of medication to the precise source of your pain. As you might imagine, spinal injections for pain treatment offer longer pain relief than those used for diagnosis.

When used for treatment, spinal injections are typically one element of a comprehensive therapeutic plan. The medical team at The Spine Center of Louisiana typically recommends an exercise regime, including stretching and weight training to strengthen supportive muscles and improve your mobility.

How do spinal injections diagnose pain?

When you have pain, the goal is to find and treat the source. To do this, your doctor at The Spine Center of Louisiana takes your medical history and performs a physical examination. This allows your doctor to pinpoint the source of your pain. Then, they’ll inject pain-killing medication in the suspected area. If that knocks out your pain, it confirms their diagnosis is correct.

What are common spinal injections?

Spinal injections can relieve the symptoms of painful conditions that affect your back and legs. Here are some common spinal injections:

Epidural injection

Typically treats a herniated disc or disc radiculitis. Your doctor at The Spine Center of Louisiana injects a numbing medicine and anti-inflammatory medication, such as a steroid, near the affected nerve. The treatment alleviates pain and reduces inflammation.

Facet joint injection

Generally treats pain from an injury or degenerative and arthritic conditions. This injection alleviates pain in your lower back, middle back, and neck.

Sacroiliac joint injection

Sacroiliac joints are found between the sacrum and ilium (pelvic) bones. Injections here reduce pain in the legs, lower back, and buttocks.

How long do injections last?

Ideally, spinal injections would eliminate pain forever, but spinal injections are a temporary solution—meaning you’ll need to go back for treatment when the injection wears off. Depending on your medical condition, you can expect to need injections three to four times per year to keep your pain manageable.