Injections

Back and neck injections are often referred to as spinal blocks.

These injections can help patients with pain in the neck, an arm, the lower back or a leg (sciatica). Specific conditions that may benefit from back and neck injections include:

• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc
• Sciatica

How Injections are Done

Medications are injected into a back or neck structure, such as the epidural space, intervertebral space, nerve root or facet joint. During the procedure, local anesthetics are used to relieve pain in the specific area. Many times, a steroid is also administered to reduce swelling and inflammation. Once administered, the medication moves freely along the spine to coat the nerve roots and the lining of the facet joints. This begins to numb and relieve the patient's back or neck pain.

While many back and neck procedures can leave a patient sore or stationary for weeks, back and neck injection procedures take less recovery time. Your physician determines the number of injections, and an exercise routine often is included in treatment plans.