When it comes to treating neck and back pain, steroid injections (also known as cortisone injections) are a good treatment option. They can be incredibly effective in reducing inflammation and providing relief from pain, as the pain medicine is delivered directly to the affected area of the body. Steroid injections are used in the treatment of neck and back pain due to arthritis, disc degeneration, nerve compression syndromes such as sciatica, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine), and muscle spasms.
How Are Steroid Injections Delivered to The Neck and Back?
The most common type of injection used is an epidural steroid injection (ESI). Cervical epidural steroid injections are for pain treatment in the neck area; thoracic epidural steroid injections are for treating pain in the upper and middle back; lumbar epidural steroid injections relieve pain in the lower back region.
Epidural steroid injections work by delivering steroids directly into the area around your spinal nerves, which carry signals between your brain and body, also known as the epidural space. Once the medication reaches the area, swelling is reduced, as is pressure on the nerves, which results in pain relief for the patient. In addition to relieving pain symptoms associated with pinched nerves associated with conditions like disc degeneration, disc herniation, sciatica, and spinal stenosis, epidural steroid injections provide immediate and longer-lasting results compared to oral medications, because they are delivered locally rather than having to pass through the digestive system.
Another type of steroid injection is delivered to the facet joints (facet joint injections), which are located above and below each vertebra. It can also relieve pain from arthritis, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, and sciatica. Your doctor will recommend the right injection for you based on the location and extent of your symptoms.
Advantages of Steroid Injections
There are many advantages to steroid injections. First, they are minimally invasive compared to surgery and require no hospitalization or downtime. Steroid injections are considered an in-office procedure, and you can go home right after. Second, they have very few reported side effects, and those reported are minor, such as temporary soreness at the injection site. Third, steroid injections take little time out of your day, but the relief can be felt for months, which makes it highly favored by patients. Lastly, steroid injections are an affordable treatment option when compared to surgery.
Where To Get Steroid Injections
Overall, if you suffer from chronic neck or back pain, consider speaking with a doctor about whether you are a good candidate for steroid injections. Not all forms of back pain can be relieved with steroids, so you should consult a doctor to determine if this treatment is right for you. Spine and pain management doctors are most qualified to provide steroid injections for patients. Contact an experienced doctor who offers a variety of back pain treatments to learn about steroid injections and whether you could benefit from them.
Back Pain Management in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Lapeer, Michigan
If pain is getting in the way of you having a happy and normal life, reach out to us at Ahlgren Spine. For over 25 years, Dr. Bradley Ahlgren has treated patients with neck and back pain and helped them find lasting relief from symptoms. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahlgren, call our office today at (248) 215-8080 or use our convenient online request form.
