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Nerve Blocks and Trigger Point Injections

In some cases, getting injections for pain relief is a great treatment for back pain. These injections will stimulate your natural pain control reactions as well as promote healing through increasing blood flow and nutrition. You will begin to see results after the first sessions, but may require up to 12 treatments depending on the severity of your condition.

Nerve Block Injections

A nerve block injection is used to target a specific group of nerves. It works by numbing and deactivating the pain signals coming through these nerves, a technique which helps to decrease inflammation and control the sensation of pain. It’s a great technique for people with severe back pain and other types of chronic pain. In many cases, it can help a patient avoid painful spine surgery. Usually, nerve block injections only take about five to 15 minutes to complete and involve up to six needles at a time. Because our pain specialists use x-rays, they can avoid accidentally hitting any bony structures to reduce the risk of complications. If you are feeling too nervous, we can even provide you with a local anesthetic or IV sedation during the procedure. Back pain reliefresults vary depending on the severity of your condition. Some people may begin to experience pain relief after just one session, while others may need additional injections to stave off their suffering. After the procedure, you might experience some soreness in the injection site, but this should resolve itself in just a few days. Generally, most patients can receive repeat injections three to six times in a 12 month span.

Facet Joint Injections

If you’re looking for joint pain remedies, then a facet joint injection could be just what you need. These injections use steroids to reduce inflammation and pain along the joints that stabilize and control movement of the spine. This is a great method of treating back pain caused by an acute injury or overuse of the spine. The nerves of the facet joint can also be numbed using a medical branch block to reduce pain signals.

Sacroiliac Joint Injections

Another method of joint pain relief is a sacroiliac joint injection. When this joint gets inflamed or injured, it can cause an aching lower back pain. If the inflammation gets bad enough, it can even cause the joint to dysfunction, limiting your mobility and range of motion. With a sacroiliac joint injection, medication is delivered directly into the joint, providing help for lower back pain.  

Occipital and Supraorbital Nerve Blocks

If you’re suffering from back of head pain, a neck ache, or headaches, you could have problems with your occipital or supraorbital nerve. An occipital or supraorbital nerve block works to reduce inflammation and pain stemming from these nerves, providing head and neck pain relief for many patients. Peripheral Joint InjectionsAnother way to get pain relief for joint pain is through peripheral joint injections. These are injections that are inserted into the hip, shoulder, or knee to provide hip pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain relief. Injuries or overuse of these joints can lead to pain or swelling, limiting how you function. These injections are a great way to promote healing and help you get back on your feet.

Trigger Point Injections

Your body has certain trigger points where muscles can tighten up and become tender. This causes muscle pain that can feel like a band or knot underneath the skin. Whenever these points are pressed down on, they can cause sharp pain in the back, arms, legs, or other seemingly unconnected regions. Typically, trigger points are caused by working out too much, stress, or problems with posture. Luckily, a trigger point injection can help to relieve the tension in the area and prevent muscle pain from spreading through the body.


Author
Yaron Lohr, DC Clinic Director

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