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Spinal Injections

Spinal Injections

Spinal injections are basically medications like inflammation reducing drugs, local anaesthetics that are injected around the nerve roots as they exit the spinal column/facet joints or the space around the nerves under X-ray control. They act by reducing the pain and swelling at the site of involvement thereby relieving symptoms and enabling mobilisation and ability to exercise.

Spinal injections are an excellent option when treating certain spinal conditions. They have both diagnostic and therapeutic value. They are more commonly used for lumbar spine issues but also in cervical and thoracic problems. They include :

  • Epidural injections
  • Selective nerve root injections
  • Facet blocks

In indicated cases injections have been shown to provide remarkable relief in symptoms. This relief is more pronounced in the short term but the benefit may not last in the long-term. They don’t completely solve the problem but help in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with spinal conditions. Thus injections act as a bridge between conservative or non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment and can actually help in avoiding a surgery in some situations. They are more helpful in reducing leg pain (sciatica) or arm pain as compared to back or neck pain associated with spinal conditions. They normally give relief for 3-6 months after which they can be repeated if required.

The procedure involves injecting small amount of steroid with local anaesthetic agent directly over or close to the pain generating area. Overall they are quite safe and don’t require any kind of general anaesthesia. They are given under X-ray/fluoroscopy/CT control to specifically target the involved area. Since they directly target the specific area less dose of steroid is required and so have many advantages as compared to oral steroids and painkillers which have a less focused impact and unacceptable side effects.

Potential risks and complications of spinal injections are

  • Local injection site pain and soreness. It normally resolves in a day or two with application of local ice packs.
  • Transient increase in pain.
  • Rarely there can be light-headedness, headache, nausea or vomiting after the procedure.
  • Major complications that are extremely rare include permanent nerve damage, infection, bleeding and allergic reaction.