Epidural Injections & Nerve Blocks at Georgia Pain Specialists
Are you someone who experiences neck or back pain on a regular basis? Pain along your spinal cord is notorious for being debilitating, frustrating, and hard to handle. But what if we told you that your back pain is treatable with no invasive surgery required? At Georgia Pain Specialists, our medical staff, led by triple board-certified Dr. Williams, have an excellent track record of helping patients in the Atlanta area manage their pain.
Thanks to our one on one consultation approach, Dr. Williams can quickly and effectively identify the source of a patient’s pain and the best path toward treatment and recovery. For example, one of our most common non-invasive treatments for back pain is epidural injection. Epidural injections and nerve blocks quickly and efficiently treat pain directly at the source. Read about the procedures below to find out more about how these injections can help manage your pain.
What is an Epidural Injection?
An Epidural Steroid Injection is an injection of a local anesthetic agent and a specialized steroid into the epidural space or the foramen (where the nerve root exits) at a specific spinal level. Epidural Injections can be administered in the neck (cervical), mid-back (thoracic), or low back (lumbar) depending on the affected spinal region. Fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance is utilized to determine the precise location of the injection.
What is the Purpose of an Epidural Steroid Injection?
Epidural Steroid Injections are done to treat pain from disc degenerations, herniations, and protrusions, as well as spinal compression fractures. The resulting inflammation and nerve compromise from these conditions can cause both localized pain and radiating pain. In the case of an Intralaminar Epidural Steroid Injection, the medication is injected directly into the epidural space at the identified spinal level to bathe the structures that are inflamed (discs and nerve roots) which should help decrease your pain. In the case of a Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection, the medication is injected into the foramen to target inflammation and/or irritation of a specific nerve root. The Transforaminal approach provides pain relief and can also be used diagnostically to help locate the specific nerve root that is being compromised.
Cervical Epidural Injections
Is your pain concentrated in your neck, shoulders, or arms? This type of pain is often associated with a pinched nerve due to upper-spinal inflammation. Our cervical epidural injection works by treating the neck area of the spine with an injection of steroids and anesthetic to reduce inflammation and pain. By reducing the swelling in your neck area, previously pinched or compressed nerves will be given space to “breathe,” allowing patients relief and a chance to recover.
Thoracic Epidural Injections
Is your middle or upper back the source of your spinal pain? In the medical world, this region is known as the thoracic region and is a common site of pain for many Americans. Like most types of back pain, thoracic pain can be caused by spinal disk herniation or pinched nerves. Guided by x-rays for accuracy, our thoracic epidural injection delivers pain relief directly to the source, and has helped hundreds of patients manage their mid to upper back pain.
Lumbar Epidural Injections
If the source of your pain is your lower back, a lumbar epidural injection may be the best treatment for you. Like our other two injection treatments, this injection seeks to reduce inflammation directly at the source in your lumbar, or lower back region. By using x-ray technology, we can pinpoint the exact cause of pain and treat it directly with a minimally invasive epidural injection.
What Are the Medications Injected?
The injection consists of saline, Lidocaine (local anesthetic agent), and Methylprednisolone (specialized steroid agent).
What is Sympathetic Nerve Block?
Sympathetic Nerve Blocks are can be administered in either the lumbar spine or cervical spine. In the case of a Lumbar Sympathetic Nerve Block, saline and Lidocaine are combined and injected along the sympathetic nerve chain in the upper lumbar region on either side depending on the side on which you have pain. Cervical Sympathetic Block Injections (also known as Stellate Ganglion Blocks) are performed at the C6 level of the cervical region on either side depending on the side on which you have pain. Fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance is utilized to determine the precise location of the injection.
What is the Purpose of a Sympathetic Nerve Block?
Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks are indicated primarily for leg pain and foot pain caused by overactivity of the sympathetic nerves on either side. This leg pain and foot pain is a common symptom of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (“RSD”, also known as complex regional pain syndrome 1). This block can also improve blood flow into the leg and foot. Cervical Sympathetic Blocks (Stellate Ganglion Blocks) are done to block the sympathetic nerves that go to the hand or arm on the affected side. This nerve pain is again associated with RSD/complex regional pain syndrome 1. The procedure can relieve arm and hand pain and numbness, and can also help with blood flow to the upper extremities.
What are the Medications Injected?
The injection consists of saline and Lidocaine (local anesthetic agent).
What is An Occipital Nerve Block?
An Occipital Nerve Block is an injection of a local anesthetic and a specialized steroid in the cervical (neck) region along the origin of the greater occipital nerve.
What is the Purpose of an Occipital Nerve Block?
Occipital Nerve Block injections are indicated for neck pain that radiates to the base of the skull or causes frequent cervicogenic headaches. The inflammation of the greater occipital nerve frequently causes these symptoms.
What Are the Medications Injected?
The injection consists of saline, Lidocaine (local anesthetic agent), and Methylprednisolone (specialized steroid agent).
What is an Intercostal Nerve Block?
An Intercostal Nerve Block is and injection of local anesthetic and long-lasting steroid in the mid-back/upper back (thoracic) region between two ribs where the intercostal nerve is located. Fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance may be utilized to determine the precise location of the injection.
What is the Purpose of An Intercostal Nerve Block?
Intercostal Nerve Block injections are indicated for upper back, mid-back, flank, and/or chest pain. This pain may be neuropathic (nerve) or somatic (muscle, bone) in origin.
What Are The Medications Injected?
The injection consists of saline, Lidocaine (local anesthetic agent), and Methylprednisolone (specialized steroid agent).
What is a Sciatic Nerve Block?
A Sciatic Nerve Block is an injection of local anesthetic and long-lasting steroid along the sciatic nerve in the lumbar (lower back) region. Fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance may be utilized to determine the precise location of the injection.
What is the Purpose of a Sciatic Nerve Block?
Sciatic Nerve Block injections are indicated to relieve the pain that radiates to the buttock region, hip region, and backs of the legs. This radicular pain is also termed Sciatica, which is commonly caused by a disc herniation, bone spur, or other spinal condition resulting in compression of part of the sciatic nerve. This injection is used to block the nerve and reduce inflammation of the nerve to relieve your radiating pain.
What Are the Medications Injected?
The injection consists of saline, Lidocaine (local anesthetic agent), and Methylprednisolone (specialized steroid agent).
Schedule An Appointment Near Atlanta, GA With Georgia Pain Specialists!
From the back of your knee to the top of your spine, nerve problems can be a pain to deal with. An epidural injection or nerve block from Georgia Pain Specialists can help treat the source of your discomfort and provide relief in the affected area. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Your pain may start in your nerves but it ends in our office!
