Pain Management Injections and How They Work

Long-term, persistent pain is way worse than the pain from an acute injury or even a bad flu case. When you have acute pain, you may feel days for several days or weeks, but the pain usually lessens, letting you know that you are getting better. However, chronic pain is unpredictable and unrelenting – it can occur daily, or you may experience the pain on random days. With chronic pain, you may feel fine one day and can barely move a muscle the next day. Chronic pain can affect your plans and overall life quality when left uncontrolled. The good news is that treatments like Injections Atlanta can help you manage the pain. Here are the different types of pain management injections.

Epidural injections

Epidural steroid injections (ESI) involve injecting anti-inflammatory medicines – steroids or corticosteroids into the epidural space. The injected medication alleviates pain caused by irritation and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots. An epidural injection relieves back, neck, arm, and leg pain caused by inflammation of spinal nerves to certain conditions or injuries.

Administering epidural injections requires some technique, so healthcare providers performing the injection need extensive training. Specialists like anesthesiologists, radiologists, surgeons, psychiatrists, and neurologists usually perform the injections. Before an epidural steroid injection, your healthcare provider uses local anesthesia to numb the area. You may not experience any sensation as your specialist administers the injection, but you may feel some pressure, tingling burning sensation, or momentary pain.

Any discomfort during the procedure usually disappears once the injection is complete. Inform your provider immediately if you feel any sharp pain during or after an epidural steroid injection.

Nerve blocks

A nerve block is an injection that healthcare providers administer close to a group of nerves or a targeted nerve to lessen pain. Nerve block injections are particularly useful in establishing the source of pain. Sometimes healthcare providers combine local anesthesia with anti-inflammatory medication to promote the healing of damaged nerves. Your doctor may administer a mild sedative intravenously to keep you calm or ease your anxiety. A local anesthetic numbs your skin, but you may still feel a pinch or discomfort as the needle penetrates your skin. Most people usually go home after the procedure, but if you were sedated, you might need to arrange a ride home.

Each patient responds differently to nerve blocks, with some experiencing pain relief for a few days and others for weeks. Some patients obtain pain relief from a single injection, while others may need subsequent nerve block treatments.

Trigger point injections

Trigger points are painful knots in your muscle that form when a muscle cannot relax. Injecting small amounts of steroids and anesthetic into the affected muscles can help reduce the pain. During treatment, you will sit or lie down, and the doctor presses on your muscle to locate the painful areas. The doctor uses a thin needle to administer a mixture of anesthetic and steroids into the muscle. Treatment takes only a few minutes, and the risk of complications is low.

Chronic pain is debilitating. If you have ongoing pain, consult your healthcare provider at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center to know if you can benefit from injection therapy.