Spinal Injections

How Do Spinal Injections Help?

Spinal injections serve two purposes:

• Diagnose or confirm the cause of pain
• Reduce or relieve inflammation and pain

Overview: Injection Procedure

A spinal injection, whether it is performed for diagnostic purposes or pain relief, involves injecting a local anesthetic and corticosteroid into an area of the spine.  In the case of an epidural injection, the medications are injected into the epidural space.  The epidural space is between the protective membrane (dura mater) containing the spinal cord and the bony spinal canal.  When a nerve root block is performed, the medication is injected into the nerve root sheath; a protective membrane (pia mater) covers each nerve root.  

The procedure is performed using fluoroscopic guidance (real time x-ray).  Dr. Frazier places the needle tip at the target area and confirms proper placement of the needle visually and fluoroscopically. He then injects a small amount of contrast (dye) to ensure correct spread. Next, a low volume anesthetic / corticosteroid solution is injected.

What Can I Expect After A Spinal Injection?

One of three outcomes can be expected:

• No pain relief
• Pain relieved for a few hours/days and returns
• Pain is relieved, returns for a short time, and then improves again.

Patients whose pain is adequately relieved or reduced may undergo additional injections at specific time periods. Some patients become so attuned to theirpain cycle that they know when to call to schedule their next injection.