Spinal Injection Therapy
Back, neck, arm and leg pain may be due to a variety of conditions, including muscle strain, spasm, disc degeneration, spinal arthritis, and narrowing of the spinal canal or its nerve outlets. Spinal pain may be debilitating or merely annoying. Patients may suffer for a prolonged period when conservative therapies (rest and oral medications) fail. Spinal surgery is invasive, expensive, and, while often effective, does not guarantee pain relief. Spinal injection therapy is a safe and noninvasive alternative to surgery and has been proven effective in most patients with spinal pain.
The location and character of pain may suggest a specific spinal condition, and that diagnosis is usually supported by diagnostic tests including MRI and CT scans. Many scientific studies have shown that the pain from a pinched nerve or arthritic joint is associated with localized inflammation. That is why oral medications such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can often relieve such pain.
When pain is unrelieved or only partially relieved by these medications or narcotics, injections of cortisone-type drugs can often be helpful. Corticosteroid injections are most effective when the medication can be placed directly next to the affected nerve or within the inflamed joint. Traditionally, this has been done with the use of a fluoroscope, but based on our experience we believe that by using a CT scan for guidance, spinal injections can be performed with greater precision, safety, and efficacy.
The physicians at SDI Kearny Mesa are radiologists who are specially trained in the interpretation of spinal imaging studies. By correlating imaging findings with focused pain inventories and physical examination, they can choose the best specific injection procedure for their patients. With the use of CT guidance, they can then perform those injections with the most precision possible.
In the last few years, we have performed thousands of spinal injections on both outpatients and inpatients at Sharp Memorial Hospital. We are excited to now offer that service at our brand new state of the art imaging center at San Diego Imaging.
For more information please call (858) 634-5900.