Pain Management Injections

Several types of injections can be used to diagnose and treat back and neck pain, and often an injection does both at once. Guided by X-ray, medication is placed precisely at a nerve or joint to confirm the source of pain or relieve inflammation, usually alongside physical therapy and other conservative care.

Clinician giving a knee injection
Physician performing a spinal injection

How Can Injections Diagnose And Treat?

The spine contains many closely positioned nerves and joints, and imaging may not always identify the pain source. Diagnostic injections help pinpoint the affected nerve or joint: guided by X-ray (fluoroscopy), a needle is placed in a specific area, and if pain relief follows, that spot is likely inflamed or pinched.
 
For treatment, injections deliver medication directly to the painful area, often combining a numbing agent with a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation when oral medication is not effective.

Types Of Spine Injections

The main types of injections used to diagnose and treat spinal conditions include:

Epidural steroid injectionsPlaced directly into the epidural space of the spine. Selective nerve root blocksPlaced at one specific nerve root in the neck or back. Facet joint injectionsTarget a specific facet joint, often for arthritis or facet syndrome. SI joint injectionsPlaced into the sacroiliac joint at the base of the spine. Trigger point injectionsTarget painful knots in tense muscles. Medial branch blocksNumb the nerves carrying facet joint pain.
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Diagnostic Vs. Therapeutic Injections

While it is only necessary to diagnose a condition once, therapeutic injections can sometimes be provided in a series. Depending on your needs, two or three injections may be performed over several months.
 
Therapeutic injections are usually used along with physical therapy, stability exercises, oral medication, or lifestyle changes.
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Clinician examining an older man's knee

How An Injection Is Performed

Most spine injections follow the same simple steps:

  1. 1

    Preparation

    You are positioned comfortably and the skin is cleaned and numbed.

  2. 2

    Fluoroscopic guidance

    Live X-ray guides the needle to the target nerve or joint.

  3. 3

    Medication

    A numbing agent, often with a corticosteroid, is delivered.

  4. 4

    Assessment

    Your response helps confirm the source of pain and plan next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can injections both diagnose and treat pain?

A diagnostic injection places numbing medication at a specific nerve or joint; if the pain is relieved, that spot is likely the source. A therapeutic injection delivers medication, often a numbing agent plus a corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation at the painful area.

Why use a diagnostic injection if I already have an MRI?

The spine contains many closely positioned nerves and joints, and imaging does not always identify which one is causing pain. A diagnostic injection can pinpoint it.

What types of spine injections are there?

The main types are trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, facet joint injections, and sacroiliac (SI) joint injections.

How many injections might I need?

A diagnosis only needs to be made once, but therapeutic injections are sometimes given in a series. Depending on your needs, two or three injections may be performed over several months.

Are injections used alone?

Therapeutic injections are usually combined with physical therapy, stability exercises, oral medication, or lifestyle changes.

Is imaging used to guide injections?

Yes. Fluoroscopy (live X-ray) guides the needle to the precise location for accuracy and safety.

Do injections hurt?

The skin is numbed first, and most patients feel only brief pressure or discomfort during the injection.

Where can I get pain management injections?

Total Spine and Orthopedics provides pain management injections in Melbourne, Orlando (Lake Nona), and Titusville. Call (321) 499-4646.

Benefits Of Pain Management Injections

Injections can:

  • Pinpoint the source of pain when imaging alone cannot.
  • Deliver medication directly to the painful area.
  • Reduce inflammation when oral medication is not effective.
  • Support physical therapy by easing pain.
  • Help avoid surgery for many patients.
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Clinician giving an injection near the hip

Related Treatments

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to diagnose and treat neck and back pain. These injections are placed in the epidural space of the spine, which is located between the vertebral bones and the protective covering of the spinal cord.

Facet Injections

Facet injections are a common treatment for patients with back pain that manifests in the facet joints, the joints that connect two vertebrae and allow the spine to perform bending and twisting motions

Nerve Block Injections

Selective nerve root block injections (SNRB) are commonly administered to patients experiencing pain resulting from a compressed spinal nerve root.

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections

Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections can be performed to diagnose and/or treat SI joint dysfunction. Located in the lower back and pelvis, the sacroiliac joints can become inflamed as a result of several common conditions. Degenerative spine disease, arthritis and traumatic lower back injuries can all lead to SI joint pain.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are a painful and debilitating condition, often manifesting themselves in a person’s neck or back. Although someone with trigger points might say that they have “muscle knots,” and might even be able to feel “knots” under their skin, their muscles are not actually knotted.

Facet Ablation

Our minimally invasive facet ablation procedure is aimed to treat arthritis in the spine. Your spine has a series of facet joints on the outside of your spinal cord that lay closest to your skin.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive pain management treatment option proudly offered by Total Spine and Orthopedics.

Medial Branch Blocks

Experiencing chronic back or neck pain can significantly impact your quality of life. Medial Branch Blocks offer a minimally invasive solution, targeting the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain.

Caudal Injection

Lower back pain, leg pain, and sciatica are all relatively common conditions that can severely limit your daily activities and negatively impact your quality of life. Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections offer a minimally invasive solution, delivering steroids directly to the epidural space to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. On this page we will dive into the intricacies of the caudal injection procedure, its benefits, and answers to common questions, helping you understand if it’s the right option for you.

Occipital Nerve Block

Chronic headaches and neck pain can be debilitating, dramatically affecting your daily life and making even simple tasks difficult.

What To Expect

Injections are outpatient procedures with a quick return home.

Same day

Home and rest

Most patients go home shortly after the injection.

Days

Medication takes effect

Steroid benefit typically builds over several days.

Weeks to months

Combined care

Physical therapy and exercise help extend the benefit.

Our Patients Stories

Hear our patients share their experience with us, All in their own words.

Why Choose Total Spine and Orthopedics

Expert, ultra-minimally invasive spine and orthopedic care, close to home.

  • Ultra-minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques

    We specialize in procedures performed through incisions smaller than a dime, sparing muscle and supporting a faster recovery.

  • Same-day, outpatient procedures

    Most patients walk in and return home within hours, rather than facing an overnight hospital stay.

  • Board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons

    Our team includes early leaders in endoscopic spine surgery.

  • A complimentary MRI review

    Understand your diagnosis and options from a board-certified specialist before committing to any treatment.

  • Trusted by our community

    More than 1,100 patient reviews at a 4.6-star average, and over 50,000 patients treated.

  • A full range of injections

    From diagnostic blocks to therapeutic injections, matched to the source of your pain.

  • Comprehensive spine and orthopedic care

    From injections to advanced procedures, your full continuum of care is handled in one place.

  • Convenient locations across the Space Coast and Orlando

    Care close to home in Melbourne, Orlando (Lake Nona), and Titusville.

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