Spinal injections deliver medication directly to the area where your back or neck pain may be coming from, such as an irritated nerve, an inflamed joint or a tight muscle. Depending on the type, an injection can help reduce pain and inflammation, and it can also help your provider confirm where the pain is actually starting. At Innovation Spine Medical, your provider recommends a specific injection only after evaluating your symptoms, exam findings and any imaging you have.
Your provider may recommend a facet joint injection for:
Places anti-inflammatory medication near irritated spinal nerves. Often considered for pain that travels into the arm or leg.
Targets the small joints at the back of the spine that can cause localized back or neck pain.
Targets the joint where the lower spine meets the pelvis, a common source of buttock and low back pain.
Treats tight, tender knots in muscles that can refer pain to other areas.
Not an injection of medication, but often the next step when a facet or SI joint is confirmed as the pain source. It uses heat to quiet specific pain-carrying nerves.
This guide is only a starting point. The right injection depends on your diagnosis, and your provider will explain why a particular option makes sense for you.
Looking for an injection for back pain or neck pain but not sure where yours comes from? Start with our condition guides for lower back pain and neck pain.
Most spine injection treatment follows a similar pattern, whatever the type:
Your provider reviews your medications (especially blood thinners), allergies and health history, and explains the steps, benefits and risks.
The skin is cleaned and numbed. For many spinal injections, imaging guidance helps place the needle precisely. The injection itself is usually brief.
You’ll rest briefly before going home. Some soreness at the injection site is common for a day or two. Your provider will tell you when to resume normal activities and will track how your pain responds.
Most people feel pressure and brief discomfort rather than sharp pain. The skin is numbed first, and your provider will talk you through each step.
It varies. Some people notice relief for weeks or months, others for a shorter time, and some don’t respond. How long relief lasts depends on the injection type, your condition and other factors.
Like any procedure, injections carry some risks, such as infection, bleeding, a temporary increase in pain or, rarely, nerve irritation. Your provider will review the risks that apply to you before treatment.
Many plans cover medically necessary spinal injections, sometimes with prior authorization. Our team can help you check your coverage.
Not sure which option fits your pain? Start with an evaluation at our Rego Park office.
