Page 1 of 1

Spinal injections

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:02 pm
by kazmoonpepper
Hi I'm having spinal injections next week do they work? Are they painful?

Re: Spinal injections

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 1:00 pm
by Arthritis Action
Hello,

it really depends on the type of injections that you are having and who is doing the injections. Common injections for spinal pain include caudal epidurals and facet joint injections. A caudal epidural involves injecting local anaesthetic plus usually a small amount of steroid medicine, low down into the base of the spine. This is not usually too painful but can be uncomfortable. Facet joint injections involve injecting the small joints at the back of the low back or neck and are often given with the use of X ray equipment to help make sure the injection goes into the right place. These are usually done with some local anaesthetic to the skin and sometimes some sedation to make the pain easier. Sometimes these are done with heavier sedation in an operating theatre so will be painless. I hope that helps and good luck.

Dr Wendy Holden
Consultant Rheumatologist and Medical Advisor to Arthritis Action
www.arthritisaction.org.uk /
info@arthritisaction.org