Chronic pain can be relentless and unpredictable. Some days may be better than others, but when pain strikes, it often feels like there’s no end in sight. This unpredictability adds a layer of frustration and anxiety to daily life. Fortunately, medical injections offered by Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology in Raleigh can provide the relief you seek.
Pain management injections are a minimally invasive solution designed to offer substantial and lasting pain relief. Whether your chronic pain is a result of an injury or a medical condition, Apex Orthopaedics can assist you in regaining comfort and functionality. Contact us today to discuss your options with one of our specialists or to schedule a consultation.
How Are Medical Injections Utilized in Pain Management?
Medical injections for pain relief contain medications aimed at reducing discomfort and inflammation. These injections often include steroids, like cortisone, local anesthetics, or a combination of both. Steroid-based injections are common for long-term relief from pain and inflammation. For instance, epidural steroid injections are widely employed to counter lower back pain, and they can also benefit those with neck and upper back issues.
These injections deliver the medication into the epidural space around the spinal cord, offering targeted relief. Nerve block injections are another effective method. They alleviate acute pain by interrupting nerve signals before they reach the brain. These injections are often used to handle discomfort stemming from inflamed nerves, but they can also help identify the precise source of your pain.
Both types of injections are administered through a straightforward procedure. Once the area to be treated is cleaned, a medical professional administers a local anesthetic. X-rays and a test dye are used to pinpoint the exact site for medication delivery. Finally, the medication is injected, and the site is covered with a small bandage.
Patients usually experience pain relief soon after the procedure, as the medication takes effect. The number of injections necessary for sustained relief varies from person to person.
Treatable Injuries and Conditions
Pain management injections can treat a broad range of injuries and conditions that cause chronic pain. Common injuries include:
- Back injuries from repetitive movements, heavy lifting, sports incidents, falls, or twisting
- Dislocated or fractured vertebrae
- Cervical or lumbar sprains
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Muscle strains
- Injuries from car accidents
These injections can also address numerous conditions, such as:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of bones deteriorates over time. This condition mainly affects joints in the spine, hips, knees, and hands, but it can manifest in any joint.
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy refers to painful pinched nerves caused by degenerative changes, injuries, or inflammation of soft tissues.
Degenerative Discs
Aging can cause spinal discs to weaken and dehydrate, leading to various types of back pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Conditions like bone spurs, herniated discs, and thickening ligaments can cause spinal stenosis, which narrows the spinal canal and places pressure on the nerves.
Available Injections at Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology
Spinal Injections
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
RFA is used to manage chronic pain in arthritic joints, the lower back, and the neck through the use of heat to destroy problematic nerve tissue. By sending radio waves through a needle to heat the targeted nerve, RFA prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. This method is especially useful for pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments, such as physical therapy or medications.
Cervical Medial Branch Block Injections
These injections help alleviate facet joint pain, which can cause referred shoulder pain, headaches, and neck discomfort. They deliver a local anesthetic close to the nerve, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. This procedure not only provides long-term relief but also helps predict the success of radiofrequency ablation.
Cervical Epidural Injections
This injection is typically used to relieve chronic neck pain caused by inflammation and irritation of the spinal nerve roots. The goal is to reduce pain by injecting an anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space of the neck.
Thoracic Facet Joint Injections
These injections relieve pain in the upper back, chest, and sometimes the arms, stemming from arthritis, mechanical stress, or injuries affecting the facet joints. The procedure involves injecting a combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroids.
Thoracic Epidural Injections
These injections provide temporary pain relief, enabling patients to undergo physical therapy or avoid surgery. The medication is designed to alleviate pain in the thoracic region by targeting the epidural space around the spinal cord.
Lumbar Facet Joint Injections
Located in the lower back, lumbar facet joints can be a source of pain due to arthritis or facet arthropathy. These injections introduce a numbing agent to the affected joints to alleviate discomfort.
Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Injections
Targeting the lower back, these injections are beneficial for those suffering from luminal or dural disc inflammation, which can cause pain extending down the legs. Steroids are injected into the epidural space near where the nerve exits the spine.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
These injections aim to relieve pain in the sacroiliac joints, connecting the pelvis to the spine. The procedure involves injecting medication directly into the joint, which can also help diagnose the source of lower back pain.
Spine Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP injections don’t use traditional medications but instead utilize concentrated platelets and plasma from the patient’s blood. These injections enhance the healing process and reduce inflammation naturally, offering long-lasting results with fewer risks than steroids.
Joint Injections
Joint Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
Using the patient’s blood, PRP injections facilitate faster healing by delivering a high concentration of growth factors to the affected joint. A centrifuge separates the platelet-rich plasma from the blood sample, which is then injected into the injured area.
Joint Steroid Injections
These injections contain a numbing agent and a corticosteroid to tackle chronic joint pain linked to inflammation. Administered directly into the joint capsule, they can provide significant relief for days, months, or even years. Steroid injections are effective for treating pain from degeneration, injury, or arthritis in knees, shoulders, hips, sacroiliac, and facet joints.
Experience Effective Pain Relief Today
Living with chronic pain can significantly impact your quality of life. When conventional pain relief methods fail, consider getting medical injections in Raleigh. Call us at 704-412-3045 to speak to our knowledgeable pain relief experts or to schedule an appointment at Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology.
