Spine Injections

A reliable treatment for many types of back or neck pain, spine injections are offered to many patients, as they both help with pinpointing the exact cause of pain and also can provide relief. It is also often recommended along with physical therapy to help strengthen the back after injuries.

What are Spine Injections?

Spine injections are typically a two-part process. First, a small amount of local anesthetic (also called a numbing agent) is injected into the joint area on the appropriate level of the vertebrae (spine bones). Next, a medication is injected to block the pain.

Who Should Have Spine Injections?

OrthoNebraska uses spine injections on a wide number of patients who wish to avoid pain on all levels of the spine (lower back, upper back, or neck). Spine injections tend to help most with patients whose pain is a result of inflammation, rather than an underlying cause.

How Well Do Spine Injections Work?

For many patients, spine injections last for a few months or even longer, preventing or delaying the need for surgery.  For some patients, the injections will not provide an acceptable level of pain relief. For those patients, other treatments or surgery may need to be considered.

What Can I Expect When I Have Spine Injections?

Spine Injections are performed in an operating room in the hospital, but you won’t stay overnight. Local anesthetic means you’ll have minimal recovery needs. Although you’ll need an adult to drive you home, your visit from check-in to check-out should only take about 90 minutes. After your treatment, you may experience some mild pain and swelling around the injection site(s). You can use ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication for a few days after the procedure. For detailed questions, please ask your provider or nurse.