Injections for back pain are used as a diagnostic tool to identify the source of back pain, and also as a pain management treatment. Back pain is a condition that has affected 90% of Americans at some point in their lifetime. In fact, more than $100 billion is spent annually on managing back pain, including the use of injections.
Back pain can occur in the cervical (neck), thoracic (middle back), or lumbar (lower back) regions. Back pain causes range from aging, to trauma, to spinal conditions such as a pinched nerve. Our spinal vertebrae are protected on top and bottom by soft, gel-like discs that act as shock absorbers. Over the years, discs lose their spongy softness – and sometimes, their protective fluid – decreasing their ability to protect the vertebrae. Also, the muscles that hold our vertebrae together can lose their strength and become susceptible to injury. Discomfort from these issues can last for a short period of time (acute back pain) or it can last for three months or longer (chronic back pain).
Injections for back pain offer patients a fairly conservative approach to chronic back pain management. While injections are somewhat invasive, they can be more effective than oral medications since injected medication is delivered directly to the affected area. Certain injections also can provide doctors with crucial information about the exact location of where your pain is originating from.
If you’re experiencing a full range of back pain symptoms like numbing, tingling, or weakness in the extremities, consult with your doctor. He or she can diagnose the cause of your symptoms and recommend a back pain treatment plan that may include physical therapy or over-the-counter medications. If you do not respond to standard treatment, your doctor can prescribe back pain injections including:
- Spinal joint block
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve block
- Facet rhizotomy
- Soft tissue
There may be situations where patients need more than what conservative treatments can provide. At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), we offer free MRI or CT scan reviews, as well as consultations on our minimally invasive, endoscopic, outpatient procedures. Contact us today for more information about our institute, and learn how we help patients return to living a functional lifestyle once again!
