Ask Dr. Santos: How Do Injections Help Diagnose Back Pain?

When a patient comes to Summit spine surgeon Dr. Edward Santos with a back pain complaint, diagnosis can be challenging. There are a host of conditions that generate back pain—and sometimes the location where the pain is felt is not the underlying source of the problem. Dr. Santos explains how an injection can help him confirm a diagnosis. 

“My job is to accurately identify the source of my patient’s back pain,” explains Dr. Santos. “That is often the challenge. Whether pain can be treated with conservative therapies or requires surgery, my first task is to really decipher and figure out the source of the pain.

“Diagnosis begins with the history and physical exam, which are the most important components of the diagnostic process,” he continues. “After I arrive at a presumptive diagnosis based on history and examination, I then may use X-rays and other imaging modalities for confirmation. In addition, I have found injections very helpful for diagnostic purposes. If I suspect that one specific level or structure of the spine is symptomatic, I might use an injection in that area. If the injection gives the patient some relief, we have evidence that we are targeting the correct area of the spine for treatment.”

An epidural steroid injection can be given at the office and usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Here’s what you can expect:

• The patient lies flat on an X-ray table. If the prone position is painful, the patient may be able to sit or lie on his or her side for the injection.
• The skin at the injection site is cleaned and then numbed with a local anesthetic.
• Using fluoroscopy for guidance, the physician inserts a needle into the skin and directs it toward the epidural space.

“If the injection provides the patient with good—if temporary—relief, we have an indication that this is the spot causing the pain. Injections are helpful for diagnosis and for pain relief. Studies have shown that a significant percentage of patients receive some pain relief as the result of a lumbar epidural steroid injection, with effects lasting from a week to up to a year. The pain relief benefits of injections can improve a patient’s quality of life, minimize the need for pain medications, and potentially delay or avoid surgery. I want to help my patients reclaim their quality of life, and injections are one of the medical resources I have to accomplish that goal.”

Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive spine expertise

Our back specialists diagnose spine problems and design custom treatment plans built on a conservative, nonsurgical approach. Most patients find relief through treatments including guided injections, specialized physical therapy, biofeedback, exercise, activity modification, and medication. When conservative care does not relieve symptoms, our highly skilled surgeons offer proven, evidence-based surgical options. Together with you, we will determine the right course of action.

Start your journey to a healthy spine. Find your spine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a spine consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

More resources for you

• Meet Dr. Edward R. Santos
• Ask Dr. Santos: How Has Imaging Technology Improved Surgical Precision?
• Ask Dr. Clary: Can Spinal Stenosis Pain Be Treated Without Surgery?

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