Types Of Injections For Back Pain

If chronic back pain is limiting your life, spinal injections may offer real relief. Pain and Spine Specialists of Idaho Falls provides safe, image-guided injections like epidural steroids, facet joint injections, and nerve blocks to reduce inflammation, stop pain signals, and avoid surgery.

These minimally invasive treatments target the exact source of your pain and can provide lasting results. Whether you’re dealing with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or nerve irritation, our personalized approach helps you heal and move forward.

 

Understanding Your Options

Chronic back pain affects millions of Americans and limits daily activities, sleep, and quality of life. If you’ve tried physical therapy, medication, or rest without results, it may be time to explore spinal injections.

We offer several types of injections for back pain to help patients relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and avoid surgery. These minimally invasive procedures target specific areas of the spine to stop pain signals and promote healing.

This guide addresses common questions about spinal injections, including how they work, their duration, and available options.

What Are Spine Injections?

Spine injections are therapeutic injections used to treat or diagnose back pain, neck pain, or leg pain caused by inflammation or nerve irritation.

They deliver steroid medication, anesthetics, or regenerative agents directly into or around the spine. They aim to reduce swelling, calm pain signals, and improve movement.

Depending on your condition, injections can target the epidural space, facet joints, nerve root, or sacroiliac joint.

Are Spine Injections Safe?

Yes. When performed by trained professionals, spinal injections are a safe and effective treatment option for many patients.

We follow strict safety protocols. All injections for back pain are done in sterile settings using imaging guidance for accuracy.

Side effects are generally mild and may include soreness at the injection site, temporary numbness, or lightheadedness. Serious complications are rare.

Before any procedure, our team conducts a thorough evaluation to ensure the injection is appropriate for your symptoms and medical history.

How Long Do Injections In The Back Last?

The duration of pain relief varies. Some patients experience improvement for several days, while others enjoy benefits for months.

Factors that affect duration include:

 

 

• Type of injection used
• Severity of inflammation
• Your diagnosis and condition
• Response to steroid medication
• Activity level after the procedure

While results vary, many patients report significant pain relief that allows them to return to physical activity and delay or avoid back surgery.

How Much Do Spinal Injections Hurt?

The discomfort is minimal. Most patients describe the feeling as a mild pinch or pressure at the injection site.

We use local anesthesia to numb the skin. Some procedures, like epidural steroid injections, may cause temporary tingling or pressure during the injection.

Our goal is to make each treatment as comfortable as possible. After the procedure, some soreness is normal and usually resolves within one to two days.

Can You Get An Injection For Severe Back Pain?

Yes. Many of our patients come to us with severe back pain, unable to walk, sit, or sleep comfortably.

Spinal injections can be used to alleviate pain caused by:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint inflammation
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Nerve root irritation

Injections may also help treat neck pain, leg numbness, and pain that radiates through the arms or legs.

When other treatments fail, injections for back pain provide hope for faster healing and effective pain relief.

What Types of Spine Injections Are There?

At Pain and Spine Specialists, we offer several types of spinal injections to address various causes of chronic pain. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

1. Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space, which surrounds the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

They are often used to treat:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica
• Leg pain

By reducing swelling, these injections help relieve nerve root compression and alleviate pain. Relief may last from a few weeks to several months.

There are several approaches to epidurals, including:

• Caudal epidural steroid injections (lower spine)
• Cervical spine epidural injections (neck area)
• Selective nerve root blocks (targeting a specific affected nerve)

2. Facet Joint Injections

Facet joints are small joints located between the bones of the spine. When these joints become inflamed, they can lead to chronic back or neck pain.

Facet joint injections involve injecting a mix of steroid and anesthetic into or near these joints. This reduces inflammation and blocks pain signals.

They are often used to treat:

• Spinal osteoarthritis
• Whiplash injuries
• Back stiffness
• Facet syndrome

If the injection is successful, you may also be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation, which can provide longer-lasting relief.

3. Medial Branch Nerve Blocks

These nerve block injections target the medial branch nerves, which carry pain signals from the facet joints.

Medial branch blocks are often used as a diagnostic injection to determine if the facet joints are the true cause of your pain.

If successful, they may lead to radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that disables the pain-transmitting nerves for extended relief.

4. Sacroiliac Joint Injections

The sacroiliac joint (SI joint) connects the spine to the pelvic bones. Dysfunction in this joint can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs.

SI joint injections use a combination of steroid and anesthetic to calm inflammation and improve function. These joint injections help diagnose and treat pain symptoms caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

5. Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections target tight muscle knots that form after stress or injury. These knots can cause pain that radiates to other parts of the body.

A small needle is used to inject medication directly into the muscle knot. This relaxes the area, improves circulation, and supports the natural healing process.

Trigger point injections are helpful for chronic back pain, neck pain, and muscle spasms.

6. Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

The sympathetic nervous system helps regulate blood flow, muscle tone, and the transmission of pain signals. Overactivity in this system may cause chronic pain conditions.

Sympathetic nerve blocks are used to stop pain caused by sympathetic nerves. These injections can provide pain relief for conditions like:

• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Chronic nerve pain
• Leg pain and swelling
• Back pain after trauma

When successful, sympathetic nerve blocks work to calm the overactive pain response and restore balance in the nervous system.

When Should You Consider Spine Injections?

 

You may be a candidate for spinal injections if:

• Your chronic back pain hasn’t improved with conservative care
• You experience neck pain or leg pain from nerve irritation
• You need short-term relief to begin physical therapy
• You want to avoid or delay back surgery
• Your doctor needs to locate the affected nerve causing pain

Injections are part of a broader pain management strategy. They’re often combined with physical therapy, stretching, or regenerative medicine when appropriate.

Can Spine Injections Help Avoid Surgery?

Yes. For many patients, injections for back pain reduce inflammation enough to allow the body to heal naturally.

By calming irritated spinal nerves and stopping pain signals, injections create a window of opportunity to strengthen your spine through therapy and exercise.

While not a cure, they can significantly delay or eliminate the need for surgical intervention.

Ready to Explore Your Injection Options?

If you’re struggling with chronic pain, our mission is to help you move freely, sleep better, and return to the life you love—with less pain and more confidence.

Spinal injections offer real hope for effective pain management without surgery. Whether you’re interested in epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, or nerve blocks, we’re here to help.

Schedule an appointment today! We’ll walk you through your options and guide you toward a personalized, results-driven treatment plan.