How Can Spinal Injections Relieve Your Back Pain?

Back pain can be a debilitating condition that affects every aspect of your life. Whether it’s from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or another issue, finding relief can feel challenging. Fortunately, spinal injections offer a non-surgical solution for managing chronic or severe back pain, allowing many people to return to their daily activities with reduced discomfort. At Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine, we specialize in using spinal injections to provide effective pain relief for a variety of conditions.

What Are Spinal Injections?

Spinal injections are minimally invasive procedures designed to deliver pain-relieving medication directly to the source of discomfort in your spine. These injections often contain a mixture of corticosteroids and a local anesthetic. The goal is to reduce inflammation and swelling around irritated nerves, joints, or discs, providing longer-term pain relief.
 

How Spinal Injections Work to Relieve Pain

Back pain is often caused by inflammation or pressure on nerves within the spinal column. Spinal injections work by reducing inflammation or numbing the affected area, which helps alleviate pain. Here’s a breakdown of how these injections provide relief:
 

• Reducing Inflammation: Conditions like spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and sciatica cause inflammation in the tissues surrounding the spinal nerves. By injecting corticosteroids directly into the affected area, spinal injections help to reduce this inflammation, providing significant pain relief.

• Blocking Pain Signals: Some injections, such as nerve blocks, are designed to prevent pain signals from traveling from the spine to the brain. This offers temporary relief and can also be used to diagnose the exact source of pain.

• Targeted Relief: Unlike oral medications, which affect the entire body, spinal injections are highly targeted, delivering medication directly to the area causing pain. This increases the effectiveness of the treatment while minimizing side effects.

Conditions Treated by Spinal Injections

Spinal injections are used to treat the several conditions. A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in the outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain. Epidural steroid injections can help reduce the inflammation and pressure around the affected nerve.
 

Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness. Spinal injections can reduce inflammation and improve mobility.
 

Sciatica is caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down to the legs. Epidural injections are often used to relieve the pain associated with sciatica.
 

The Benefits of Spinal Injections

Spinal injections offer several advantages as part of a comprehensive pain management plan:
 

• Non-Surgical Option: For individuals looking to avoid or delay surgery, spinal injections can provide significant pain relief without the risks associated with surgery.

• Quick Recovery: Most patients can resume their normal activities within a day or two, making this a convenient treatment option.

• Improved Mobility: By reducing pain and inflammation, spinal injections can improve your ability to move and perform daily tasks.

• Long-Lasting Relief: While not a permanent solution, spinal injections can provide relief for weeks or even months, giving you time to engage in physical therapy and other treatments that can address the underlying cause of your pain.

Are Spinal Injections Right for You?

Spinal injections are a highly effective treatment option for many types of back pain, especially when other conservative treatments have not provided sufficient relief. However, the effectiveness of these injections depends on the cause of your pain and your overall health. At Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine, Dr. Philip will evaluate your condition and work with you to determine the best course of treatment. If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, spinal injections could be a key part of your recovery and pain management plan.
 

Contact Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine to learn more about spinal injections and how we can help you find back pain relief. Visit our office in Lake Geneva or Kenosha, Wisconsin, or call (262) 299-6199 to book an appointment today.