A spinal injection is a powerful tool for diagnosing and treating nerve pain originating near your spine. In Long Beach, California, the experienced team at Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group provides the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques available to help identify and treat complex pain conditions, including those involving nerves. To find relief from your pain, call Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group or schedule an appointment online today.

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What is a spinal injection?

A spinal injection is a special technique using steroids and numbing agents to either diagnose the origin of your back and neck pain or as a therapeutic treatment to relieve it.

There are different types of spinal injections, such as:

  • Epidural injections delivered just outside the membrane protecting your spinal cord
  • Facet joint injections administered in or around the small joints between each of your vertebra
  • Sacroiliac joint injections between your pelvic bones

Spinal injections work in two ways. First, they deliver a numbing agent that provides immediate pain relief to the nerve roots triggering your symptoms. As this medication wears off, the corticosteroid continues working to reduce inflammation, which offers longer-term pain relief.

Having a spinal injection might also help flush inflammatory proteins from the area that have added to your discomfort.

Why do I need a spinal injection?

Your orthopedist might recommend a spinal injection to confirm the source of your pain. They also use them to manage pain in your lower back, legs, arms, or neck that comes from inflamed nerve endings near your spine.

Common conditions that respond positively to spinal injections include:

  • Herniated discs
  • Sciatica
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylosis

While having a spinal injection won’t cure your existing injury, it can significantly reduce pain for a week to a year, depending on your unique condition.

What should I expect during a spinal injection?

Your doctor performs spinal injections during a regular appointment, and you can go home the same day. Before administering your injection, they numb the area with a topical anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.

After preparing you for your injection, your orthopedist uses a special X-ray device known as a fluoroscope to locate the precise location to inject your medication. This approach enables them to deliver your treatment as close as possible to the nerve root causing your discomfort.

A spinal injection is typically a comfortable procedure with only minor sensations of pressure or discomfort. Afterward, your provider monitors you for a short period to ensure you don’t have an adverse reaction. When you go home, you should have someone drive you, and you should plan on relaxing for the rest of the day.

To learn more about spinal injections, call Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group or schedule an appointment online today.