Spinal Injections
Treatment > Spinal Injections
Spinal Injections
Spinal injections are used in two ways.
- Diagnostic -They can be performed to diagnose the source of back, leg, neck, or arm pain
- Therapeutic -They can be used as a treatment to relieve pain.
Procedure
Spinal injections are performed under X-ray guidance, called fluoroscopy, to confirm correct placement of the medication and improve safety.
Types of Spinal Injections
Epidural Injection
Epidural injections are used to treat pain that starts in the
spine and radiates to an arm or leg. Arm or leg pain often
occurs when a nerve is inflamed or compressed (pinched
nerve). These injections can also be used to diagnose the
source of pain.
Facet Joint Injection
These types of injections are placed into and around the facet joints, which are the small joints located between each vertebra on the back of the spine.
Facet joint injections are often used when pain is caused by degenerative/arthritic conditions or injury. They are used to treat neck, middle back, or low back pain. The pain does not have to be exclusively limited to the midline spine, as these problems can cause pain to radiate into the shoulders, buttocks, or upper legs.
Sacroiliac Joint Injection
Sacroiliac joint (SI joint) injections are similar to facet joint injections in many ways. The SI joints are located between the sacrum and ilium (pelvic) bones.
Problems in the SI joints have been shown to cause pain in the low back, buttock, and leg. Typically, one joint is painful and causes pain on one side of the lower body.
Trigger Point Injection
Another type of injection is called a trigger point injection. Common conditions treated with trigger point injections include fibromyalgia, tension headache, and myofascial pain syndrome.
Similar to epidural and facet joint injections, trigger point injections involve injecting a combination of local anesthetic and, typically, an anti-inflammatory (such as a steroid) into the problem area. Trigger point injections can usually be done without X-ray guidance.
Some people are not good candidates for spinal injections. These include people with:
- Skin infection at the site of needle puncture
- Bleeding disorder or anticoagulation
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes
- Allergy to contrast, anesthetics, or steroids
