For Specific Areas of the Body
Interventional treatments, such as injections targeting the neck, back, or joints, are medical procedures that aim to alleviate chronic and acute pain by directly addressing the source of the pain.
These treatments involve the targeted delivery of medications or other substances to specific areas of the body to reduce inflammation, block pain signals, or promote healing.
Here's an overview of how interventional injections can help in managing pain:
- Neck Injections: Neck injections can be used to treat various conditions that cause neck pain, such as cervical radiculopathy, herniated discs, or facet joint arthritis. Depending on the specific diagnosis and symptoms, different types of injections may be used, including:
- Epidural Steroid Injections: These injections deliver a corticosteroid medication into the epidural space around the spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck. They help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with nerve compression or irritation.
- Facet Joint Injections: These injections target the small joints located between the vertebrae in the neck. A local anesthetic and sometimes a corticosteroid are injected into the affected facet joints to alleviate pain caused by arthritis or injury.
- Back Injections: Back injections are commonly used to manage pain originating from the spine, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. Some common types of back injections include:
- Epidural Steroid Injections: Similar to neck injections, these injections deliver corticosteroids into the epidural space to reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with nerve compression in the spine.
- Facet Joint Injections: These injections target the facet joints in the spine, which can become a source of pain due to arthritis or injury. The injections contain a local anesthetic and sometimes a corticosteroid to provide pain relief.
- Sacroiliac Joint Injections: These injections involve delivering a local anesthetic and corticosteroid into the sacroiliac joint, which connects the lower spine to the pelvis. They can help alleviate pain caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction or inflammation.
- Joint Injections: Joint injections can be used to alleviate pain and inflammation associated with various joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or tendinitis.
Common joint injections include:
- Corticosteroid Injections: These injections deliver powerful anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medications directly into the affected joint, reducing inflammation and providing pain relief.
- Hyaluronic Acid Injections: These injections involve injecting a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid into the joint. Hyaluronic acid acts as a lubricant and shock absorber, improving joint function and reducing pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis.
Interventional injections are typically performed by trained healthcare professionals, often guided by imaging techniques (such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound) to ensure accurate placement of the injection. The specific type of injection used and the frequency of treatments will depend on the individual's diagnosis, symptoms, and response to the injections.
