INJECTIONS

 

Injection therapy is a cornerstone of our non-surgical approach to pain management. These precise, image-guided procedures serve a dual purpose: they can help diagnose the exact source of your pain and deliver powerful, targeted relief that can last from weeks to months. Injections deliver medication directly to the site of the pain, offering a highly effective alternative to oral medication dependence. 

 

All of our injections are performed using fluoroscopy (live X-ray guidance) and/or ultrasound guidance. This commitment to advanced imaging ensures the needle is positioned directly at the target site for maximum accuracy, safety, and effectiveness.

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Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)

• Purpose: To relieve low back and neck pain caused by inflamed or compressed nerve roots (like sciatica).

• Process: Anti-inflammatory medication (cortisone) is injected into the epidural space (the area surrounding the spinal cord) to coat the nerve roots, reducing inflammation.

 

Facet Joint Injection

• Purpose: To localize and treat pain coming from the small joints along your spine (facet joints).

• Process: Anti-inflammatory medication (cortisone) is injected into the facets and/or small joints to reduce inflammation.

 

SI Joint Injection

• Purpose: To diagnose and treat pain coming from the Sacroiliac (SI) joint, which is often mistaken for standard back pain.

• Process: An anti-inflammatory medication (cortisone) to treat inflammation is injection at SI joint.

 

Bursa Injection

• Purpose: To decrease inflammation and relieve pain caused by bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs, or bursae, that cushion joints).

• Process: Corticosteroids are typically used to reduce inflammation in the bursa. A common area is the hip bursa.

 

Joint Injection

• Purpose: To treat painful and inflammatory joint conditions like arthritis (including rheumatoid, psoriatic, and osteoarthritis).

• Process: Anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids) are injected directly into the joint space.

• Common Areas: Knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist, and small joints of the hands and feet. 

 

TriggerPoint Injection (TPI)

• Purpose: To treat painful, taut muscle fibers known as trigger points (or muscle knots) associated with chronic muscle tension and myofascial pain syndrome.

• Process: A local anesthetic, sometimes with a steroid, is injected directly into the trigger point to inactivate the knot, often resulting in sustained relief.

 

TPI is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, such knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points may irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body. The injection contains a local anesthetic that sometimes includes steroids. With the injection, the trigger point is made inactive and the pain is alleviated. Usually, a brief course of treatment will result in sustained relief. 

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Botox Injection

Botox injections have been tried for the management of back and neck pain, as well as headaches. Botox is a medication that can temporarily paralyze nerves. The theory behind using Botox as back and neck pain medicine is that it interrupts the signals that go from nerves to muscles, and increases range of motion.

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Which Injection Is Right For You?

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Chen to determine the precise source of your pain and discuss which targeted injection therapy is right for you.

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