Back injuries can affect many different structures, including muscles, joints, nerves, and spinal discs. Because the spine connects multiple body systems, providers evaluate several factors when determining a solution. Treatment approaches vary depending on the injury’s source and severity; options may include injections or minimally invasive procedures. Here are several treatment methods for back injuries:
Understanding Spinal Injections
Some back injuries cause inflammation and irritation around the spinal nerves, which can lead to persistent pain and discomfort. Spinal injections deliver medication directly to a targeted area of the spine; providers use imaging tools such as fluoroscopy or CT to guide placement. An epidural injection places medication into the epidural space, which surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. Providers may use a corticosteroid, sometimes combined with a local anesthetic.
Facet joint injections target the small joints along the back of the spine that connect the vertebrae and guide movement. During this procedure, you lie face down while the provider uses imaging to guide the needle into or near the joint. These injections serve a dual purpose. They address joint inflammation, and they help providers determine whether a specific facet joint is the source of the problem. A related procedure, the medial branch block, targets the small nerves that supply these joints.
Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections address the joints that connect the base of the spine to the pelvis. The provider uses imaging guidance to place an anesthetic and steroid directly into the joint, and like facet joint injections, SI joint injections are both diagnostic and therapeutic. They give providers fundamental information about the source of a patient’s back issue.
Using Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation uses a small implanted device to send mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord; this alters how nerve signals travel to the brain. The process unfolds in two distinct stages. During the trial phase, clinicians place thin lead wires in the epidural space and connect them to an external device worn on the body for about a week. If the trial meets the goals set by the patient and provider, the second stage involves permanently implanting a small generator beneath the skin. This device may be placed near the buttock or abdomen. Patients adjust stimulation settings with a handheld remote, giving them direct control to relieve pain.
Performing Percutaneous Disc Compression
Percutaneous disc compression is a minimally invasive procedure that targets damaged intervertebral discs, which contribute to nerve pressure and back pain when they bulge or herniate. The provider inserts a needle or probe directly into the disc under imaging guidance. They then use energy such as laser, radiofrequency, or mechanical force to reduce disc volume and relieve pressure on surrounding nerves. Providers may contemplate this option when a patient has not responded adequately to conservative treatments such as physical therapy or medication. The goal is to reduce disc volume, relieve pressure on surrounding nerves, and restore function to the affected spinal segment.
This procedure may help with injuries such as:
- Contained herniated discs: Disc material pushes outward but remains contained within the outer disc layer.
- Lumbar disc bulges: Intervertebral discs extend beyond their normal boundaries and may contribute to nerve irritation.
- Discogenic lower back pain: Pain originating from a damaged or degenerating intervertebral disc.
Relieve Pain From Back Injuries
Spinal injections, disc compression, and spinal cord stimulation are all back injury treatments; they help with managing back and nerve pain. Some treatments may be useful after incidents such as falls or car accidents. Each method targets a different area of the spine and serves a specific purpose in the treatment process. To learn which approach fits your situation, speak with a healthcare provider and come prepared with questions.
