THE WOODLANDS AND HOUSTON
Pain Management
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Our pain management procedures include injections that comprise another surgical treatment option for low back pain. They are typically considered as an option to treat low back pain after a course of medications and/or physical therapy is completed, but before surgery is considered. Injections can be useful both for providing pain relief and as a diagnostic tool to help identify the source of the patient’s back pain.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
PAIN RELIEF
Injections can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. While there are several different types of injections, the premise is generally the same. A short-acting numbing medication and a longacting anti-inflammatory medication are injected into a muscle, epidural space, or joint. If this results in pain relief, whether immediate or short term, the targeted area can usually be confirmed as the pain generator. When used for therapeutic purposes, the injections can be repeated up to two or three times a year to provide ongoing pain relief.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
INJECTION TYPES
Injections can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. While there are several different types of injections, the premise is generally the same. A short-acting numbing medication and a long-acting anti-inflammatory medication are injected into a muscle, epidural space, or joint. If this results in pain relief, whether immediate or short term, the targeted area can usually be confirmed as the pain generator. When used for therapeutic purposes, the injections can be repeated up to two or three times a year to provide ongoing pain relief.
JOINT INJECTIONS
TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS
OCCIPITAL NERVE BLOCKS
SYMPATHETIC BLOCKS
MEDIAL BRANCH BLOCKS
EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS
FACET JOINT INJECTIONS
SACROILIAC JOINT INJECTIONS
DISCOGRAMS
PERCUTANEOUS DISCECTOMY
RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION
SPINE STIMULATORS
PAIN MANAGEMENT
BENEFITS
Injections are usually more effective and faster acting than oral medications since the medication is administered directly to the anatomic pain source location. Typically, medications such as corticosteroids and local anesthetics are injected therefore reducing the inflammation and/or swelling of the nerves. Depending on the type of injection, pain relief may be variable in duration.