Category: Blog

Chronic back pain can be a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. For those who have exhausted conservative treatment options like physical therapy and medication, spinal injections offer a promising solution. At Summit Spine & Joint Centers we specialize in providing advanced pain management techniques, including various types of spinal injections, to help our patients find relief and improve their quality of life.

What is a Spinal Injection?

Spinal injections are minimally invasive procedures that deliver medication directly to the source of pain in the spine. These injections serve two primary purposes: diagnostic and therapeutic. As a diagnostic tool, they can help pinpoint the exact location of pain, while therapeutically, they can provide significant pain relief and reduce inflammation.

There are several types of spinal injections, each designed to target specific areas and conditions. The most common types include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, and sacroiliac joint injections.

• Epidural steroid injections are perhaps the most well-known type of spinal injection. They involve delivering a combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid medication into the epidural space, which surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. This treatment is particularly effective for conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy (pinched nerves). The steroids work to reduce inflammation and swelling around the affected nerves, while the anesthetic provides immediate pain relief.
• Facet joint injections target the small joints located between and behind each vertebra. These joints can become inflamed due to arthritis or injury, causing significant back pain. The injection typically contains a mixture of local anesthetic and steroid medication, which is delivered directly into the affected joint or the nerves that supply it. This procedure can provide both diagnostic information and therapeutic relief for patients suffering from facet joint pain.
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections are used to address pain originating from the joint between the sacrum and ilium bones in the lower back and pelvis. SI joint dysfunction can cause lower back pain, buttock pain, and sometimes leg pain. The injection delivers medication directly into the joint, reducing inflammation and providing pain relief.

What is Involved in a Spinal Injection?

The procedure for receiving a spinal injection is typically performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes less than an hour. Patients are positioned comfortably, and the injection site is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic. Using fluoroscopic guidance (real-time X-ray) or ultrasound, the physician carefully guides the needle to the precise location. This imaging ensures accuracy and safety during the procedure.

While many patients experience immediate relief due to the local anesthetic, the full effects of the steroid medication may take a few days to manifest. The duration of pain relief can vary greatly among individuals, ranging from a few weeks to several months or even longer in some cases.

What to Know If You Are Considering a Spinal Injection

Patients considering spinal injections should have realistic expectations about the outcomes. While many experience significant pain relief and improved function, results can vary. Some patients may require multiple injections or a combination of different injection types to achieve optimal results.

It is also important to note that while spinal injections can be highly effective, they are not a permanent cure for underlying spinal conditions. They are often used as part of a comprehensive pain treatment plan that may include physical therapy, exercise, and lifestyle modifications. In some cases, patients may benefit from periodic injections to maintain pain relief and functional improvement.

As with any medical procedure, spinal injections carry some risks, although serious complications are rare. Potential side effects may include temporary pain at the injection site, headaches, and in very rare cases, infection or bleeding. 

At Summit Spine & Joint Centers, our experienced pain management specialists thoroughly evaluate each patient’s condition and medical history to ensure that spinal injections are a safe and appropriate treatment option. We are committed to leveraging our expertise in spinal injections and other advanced pain management techniques to help our patients overcome chronic pain and return to the activities they love. Call us at (844) 972-7752 to schedule an appointment at any of our 43 locations including our new grand opening for Pain Management in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

May is National Correct Your Posture Month, so we thought we would take the opportunity to explore some tips on achieving better posture. After all, correct posture is vital to your overall health and results in many benefits such as increased energy, reduced back and neck pain, and greater confidence. It can also prevent muscle tension, pain, and fatigue.

The risks only worsen as we age. An extremely hunched posture, also known as hyperkyphosis, affects about two-thirds of senior women and half of senior men, says NIH News in Health. This poor posture is associated with back pain, weakness, and even trouble breathing, all of which can limit everyday activities, such as brushing your hair and getting dressed. 

Fortunately, there are many minimally invasive pain management techniques and treatments available to help you address the discomfort caused by poor posture. 

Check out these five tips for better posture. 

1.  Sit Correctly at Your Desk

You may feel like it’s more comfortable to slouch when at your desk, leaning back and swiveling around. Instead, try to sit as far back as you can in your chair. Place a lumbar cushion or small, rolled-up towel behind the middle of your back, which protects your spine’s natural curve. Keep your knees bent at a right angle, at the same height, or slightly higher, than your hips. Keep your feet flat on the floor

2.  Avoid “Text Neck” 

With so many of us scrolling, calling, researching and texting on our smartphones all day long, it’s important to be mindful of what this is doing to our posture. Every so often, take some time to stretch your neck. Do some neck rolls one way and then the other. Tilting your head down to respond to messages and check Facebook posts takes a toll on your spine even though you may not realize it. Try to lift the phone up to your eyes rather than moving your head. 

3.  Sit Upright in the Car

It may seem more comfortable to recline in your seat during a long drive, but it’s murder on your posture. Sit more upright whether you’re a driver or passenger. Don’t lock your legs, but rather, bend your knees slightly so they are at hip level or slightly above. Add a small pillow or rolled-up towel behind your back for extra support. 

4.  Wear Heels Sparingly

While fine for an occasional night out, high heels, pumps and stilettos should be left in the closet as far as your posture is concerned. That’s because they thrust the base of your spine forward, resulting in an over-arched back, altering how your backbone lines up and adds pressure on your nerves. This, in turn, causes back pain. Those high heels are also putting more weight on your knees. Stick with a lower heel or flats for daily wear.

5.  Sleep Comfortably 

Get rid of the soft, saggy mattress and instead choose a firmer one that is better at holding your spine’s natural shape. If you are a side sleeper, keep your knees slightly bent but avoid hugging them at your chest. Put a pillow under your head, ensuring it remains level with your spine. If you are a back sleeper, don’t use a thick pillow; a small one under your neck should do.

By heeding the above tips, you can be on your way to feeling more physically fit with greater confidence to face each day.

Contact Summit Spine & Joint Centers to Address Pain Caused by Poor Posture

Got back or neck pain due to poor posture? We have non-invasive treatments that can relieve your chronic pain. Just call Summit Spine and Joint Centers today at (844) 972-7752 to schedule your consultation with one of our pain management specialists.

Sciatica pain is caused by pinching, inflammation, irritation or compression of a nerve in the lower back. The most common cause? A herniated or slipped disk that puts pressure on the nerve root. Most people will get better over time with simple self-care, but sometimes further treatment is required.

Sciatica is a type of nerve pain that arises from an injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve, the longest and thickest nerve in the body. When this nerve is pinched or damaged in some way, it can be very painful to sit, stand or do much of anything else. It’s a fairly common condition, affecting an estimated 40% of people in the U.S.

Let’s explore the most effective pain relief for sciatica.

Pain Relief Measures

You can try a few home remedies to alleviate pain first, such as low back conditioning and stretching exercises. You can also alternate between ice packs and heat pads to ease the pain so you can function better. Movement is the best way to alleviate sciatic pain, from gentle exercises to massage. You can also take OTC pain medications to relieve swelling and pain.

If that does not work, there are other treatments you can try under the direction of a doctor or back pain specialist.

• Cortisone medications, given orally or by local injection (epidural injection).
• Prescription medications, including pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants (which can help reduce pain perception in the brain).
• Physical therapy, including stretching exercise to improve muscle flexibility as well as aerobic exercises (walking, swimming, water aerobics).
• Alternative therapies including spine manipulation by a licensed chiropractor, as well as yoga or acupuncture.
• Non-surgical procedures relying on state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques to improve quality of life and restore function.
• Surgery to relieve nerve compression at the lower spine. This is a last resort when all of the above have not proven effective.

Prevention

While many sources of sciatica are not preventable, you can take some steps to protect your back while reducing your risk:

• Be mindful of maintaining good posture while sitting, standing, lifting objects and sleeping. Good posture relieves pressure on your lower back, and if you’re not properly aligned, pain is often the first warning sign.
• Don’t smoke, as nicotine restricts blood supply to bones, weakening the spine and the vertebral disks.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight and having a poor diet are linked to inflammation and pain.
• Exercise regularly to keep your joints flexible and to strengthen your core, which in turn helps support your spine. It’s best to stick with low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, yoga or tai chi.
• Remove trip hazards: Wear supportive footwear, keep walkways free of obstacles, keep rooms well-lit, and install grab bars in bathrooms and rails on stairways.

Contact Summit Spine & Joint Centers for Sciatica Relief

If you need more effective pain relief from sciatica, we have focused treatments that can help you. Here at Summit Spine & Joint Centers, we pride ourselves on our experience, expertise, bedside manner and expertise in Interventional Pain Management. Book your consultation today at (844) 972-7752.

Everyone gets the occasional tweaked back or dull lower back pain. But if you’re experiencing more frequent and more painful back issues as time goes on, this could signal a more serious problem. 

From a sudden spike in discomfort, numbness or weakness, to loss of bladder function and high fever, here are some signs that your back pain needs immediate attention. 

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain

First off, let’s discuss the differences between the two types of back pain. Acute pain is basically a short-term pain that usually has an identifiable source, such as strenuous exercise or an awkward movement. It usually heals within a few weeks without treatment and you can get back to your normal routine. 

Chronic pain is a long-term pain. It too can be triggered by an injury, but usually an underlying condition is the root cause. Chronic pain is serious in that symptoms are typically strong enough to affect your overall health, quality of life and mobility for extended periods of time. Chronic pain can come on suddenly, to be sure, but usually it will build gradually and last more than a couple of months.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that chronic back pain may be recurrent, which means it can go away and then come back – over and over again. Overall, chronic back pain is serious and should be evaluated by a doctor. The cause could be a degenerative or slipped disc from an accident, or it could be attributable to a condition such as spinal stenosis.

But there are other times when back pain is an emergency that can’t wait for a doctor’s appointment.

When Back Pain Becomes an Emergency

When back pain is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s important to be seen right away. Here are some of the symptoms to be on the lookout for:

• Sudden spike in discomfort, pain, weakness or numbness
• High fever
• Loss of bladder or bowel function
• Severe stomach pain
• Pain resulting from a fall or blow to the back
• Unexplainable weight loss
• Pain that spreads down one or both legs, especially below the knee 
• Severe pain that does not improve with rest

Once you receive emergency care for the situation at hand, it’s important to make an appointment with a back specialist who can discuss causes, treatments and options for managing the pain going forward.

Contact Summit Spine and Joint Centers for Back Pain Treatment

Whether the cause of your serious back pain is a result of a muscle strain or a bulging disc, contact the back specialists at Summit Spine and Joint Centers right away.  Call us at (844) 972-7752 and make an appointment to visit one our 23 pain centers including our featured new location for Pain Management in Athens, GA.  We utilize state-of-the-art techniques to restore function and improve your overall quality of life.