What are injections in pain management?
Injections deliver pain medications directly into the area of discomfort. These minimally invasive treatments can significantly reduce neck and back pain without using addictive pain relievers or surgery. By minimizing your pain, injections give your body the time it needs to recover.
For example, if you suffer from chronic back pain caused by a herniated disc, an injection can provide relief while you work to strengthen your back muscles in physical therapy.
What are the different types of injections?
Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons offers several kinds of pain injections, including:
Epidural injection
An epidural is a common treatment for lower back pain, particularly if you have sciatica or a herniated disc. The treatment involves injecting pain medication into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord.
Facet block injection
The facet joints are small structures in the spine that allow you to twist and bend without pain. Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, or a herniated disc can inflame these joints, leading to chronic pain. A facet block injects an anesthetic directly into the affected joint to restore its function.
Trigger point injection
Trigger points are raised knots that form in muscles that can’t relax on their own. A trigger point injection relieves your pain so that the muscle has a chance to relax and recover.
How are injections done?
The orthopedic specialists at Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons perform fluoroscopic-guided injections. Fluoroscopy is a kind of live X-ray video that provides the team with better control and precision when giving the injection.
When you arrive for your injection, the team instructs you to lie down on the X-ray table. They then clean and sanitize your skin for the procedure. Once you’re prepped, the team injects a numbing agent to ensure that you feel as comfortable as possible. Finally, they give you the injection through a small needle using fluoroscopic guidance.
Most patients notice a meaningful reduction in pain within weeks of their first injection. While you can experience minor swelling and soreness at the injection site, this discomfort should go away within hours or days.
To learn more about the injections available at Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons, LLP, call the nearest office today or book an appointment online.
