Conservative care for back pain
Related information
Overview
Injections for back pain relief
Using injections for back pain relief
Injections comprise another relatively conservative treatment option for low
back pain. They are typically considered as an option to treat low back pain
after a course of medications and/or physical therapy is completed, but before
surgery is considered. Injections can be useful both for providing pain relief
and as a diagnostic tool to help identify the source of the patient’s
back pain.
How injections relieve back pain
For pain relief, injections can be more effective than an oral medication because
they deliver medication directly to the anatomic location that is generating
the pain. Typically, a steroid medication is injected to deliver a powerful
anti-inflammatory solution directly to the area that is the source of pain.
Depending on the type of injection, some forms of low back pain relief may
be long lasting and some may be only temporary.
Injections to diagnose causes of back pain
Diagnostically, injections can be used to help determine which structure in
the back is generating pain. If lidocaine or similar numbing medication is
used, and the patient feels temporary relief after an anatomic region is
injected (e.g. facet joint or sacroiliac joint), it can then be inferred
that the specific region is the source of the pain. When considered in conjunction
with a patient’s history, physical exam, and imaging studies, injections
used for diagnostic purposes can be very helpful in guiding further treatment
for the patient.
Different kinds of injections for pain relief
Common types of injections for back pain relief include:
