Spine Injections [Video]

About the video: How do spine injections work?

Spine experts Steven Stulc, D.O., and David Spight, D.O., discuss when spine injections can be helpful and how different types of injections are used.

Meet Steven Stulc, D.O.

Dr. Stulc’s approach: “My goal is to treat patients with a comprehensive approach to their spine related disorders, understanding that improving pain and function can have a tremendous impact on quality of life.”

Dr. Stulc’s education: Dr. Stulc studied at Southwestern Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN for his undergraduate degree, and he completed his medical degree at Des Moines University in Des Moines, IA. Following his residency in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program at Mayo Clinic, he completed advanced fellowship training in Interventional Pain Medicine at Penn State University’s Department of Anesthesiology in Hershey, PA.

Meet David Spight, D.O.

Dr. Spight’s approach: “My greatest satisfaction in medicine is having the opportunity to educate patients about the relationship between structure and function, which allows them to gain the necessary knowledge to become active participants in their care.”

Dr. Spight’s education: Dr. Spight completed his undergraduate studies at the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, IL and went on to receive his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, FL. His residency took place at Detroit Medical Center’s Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, and he completed advanced fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management, Spine Technology and Rehabilitation in Fort Wayne, IN.

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.

Helpful articles on spine care

• Dr. Choi Explains Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Chronic Back Pain
• Meet Pain Interventionalist Dr. Santos
• Ask Dr. Clary: Can Spinal Stenosis Pain Be Treated Without Surgery?

Additional resources for you

• Visit our back, neck & spine care services page where you’ll find more articles on spine health, information about common spine conditions and treatments, our spine video library, and more.
• Take a free spine risk assessment

Video Transcription

Most injections that we do are with a corticosteroid, or something to decrease inflammation around a particular structure, whether that be a joint or a nerve root. There are other injections that are non-steroid containing, and when we try to augment the body’s anatomy by perhaps heating a nerve that goes to an arthritic joint. There are some injections that we do even putting cement in the fractured vertebrae to try to help with pain. So injections work in a multitude of different ways from decreasing inflammation to providing stability to a fractured vertebrae. OK, so injections of the spine are used for diagnostic purposes, helping us to render a diagnosis – what structure or structures are causing the pain. And then sometimes injections are used to treat some spinal disorders. But we use it to diagnose and to treat.

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