Summit interventional spine specialist Sierra McLean, MD, gives us an overview of the most common injections for back pain and how they work.
Why Do People Get Injections for Back Pain?
It may seem counterintuitive: Your back hurts, so why would you stick it with a needle? But in fact, injections for back pain can be very effective in reducing or eliminating symptoms. They can also be used to help diagnose problems in the spine, providing information that goes beyond an X-ray or MRI to pinpoint what’s causing the pain, so it can be treated.
“I view injections as a dynamic tool in my toolbox,” Dr. McLean said. “They can be especially useful when other treatments have not provided pain relief. They can calm inflammation, reduce pain, improve mobility, and give us an idea of where the pain is coming from.”
What Kind of Back Pain Injections Are There?
There are several kinds of injections available for back pain. Which one is right for you depends on your specific symptoms and their root cause. Some injection types are specific to the spine, while others can be used in the spine or in other joints of the body. During the procedure, the doctor uses X-ray or ultrasound imaging to guide the needle, so the medicine is delivered in exactly the right place.
Common injection types that are used for back pain include:
Epidural steroid injections – A powerful anti-inflammatory medicine (a synthetic version of cortisol, a hormone your body makes) is injected to significantly reduce inflammation at the exact site of the injury or inflammation.
Peripheral nerve blocks, medial branch blocks, or radio frequency ablations – This type of injection delivers numbing medication near the nerves that are sending the pain signals in that area, blocking those signals from reaching the brain. An ablation procedure involves destroying nerve fibers that carry pain signals and helping you achieve durable pain relief.
Platelet-rich (PRP) injections – First, a small amount of your blood is taken. Your own platelets, rich with healing properties, are separated out and then injected into the injured or inflamed area. This supercharges the healing process, using your body’s own cells.
Facet joint injections – These types of injections often combine a steroid with a numbing medication to reduce inflammation and block the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. The medication is delivered into the spine’s facet joints.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to back pain; each patient is unique. The right injection depends on what’s causing the pain, the anatomy of the patient, and what the patient’s goals are for pain relief,” Dr. McLean said.
How Do I Know Which Type of Back Pain Injection Is Right For Me?
What kind of back pain injection is best for you depends on several specific factors, including your overall health, existing medical conditions, the specific cause of your symptoms, and other things. Talk with your doctor to learn more and determine what kind of injection might be right for your back pain.
