Delivers corticosteroid medication into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. The steroid reduces inflammation around compressed nerve roots caused by herniated discs, bulging discs, or spinal stenosis. This is the most common interventional treatment for sciatica and radicular pain that radiates from the spine into the arms or legs.

Epidural injections can be performed in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (lower back) spine depending on where the nerve compression is occurring. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes and is performed under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. Most patients experience significant pain relief within 3-7 days. A series of up to 3 injections may be recommended depending on response.

Targets hyperirritable knots in muscle tissue (trigger points) that cause localized pain and often refer pain to other areas of the body. A small amount of anesthetic, sometimes combined with a corticosteroid, is injected directly into the trigger point to break the pain-spasm cycle and restore normal muscle function.

Trigger point injections are particularly effective for myofascial pain syndrome, chronic tension headaches that originate from neck or shoulder muscle tension, and upper back pain between the shoulder blades. The procedure takes only a few minutes per trigger point and provides immediate relief in many cases. Multiple trigger points can be treated in a single visit.

Delivers corticosteroid medication directly into an inflamed or arthritic joint to reduce swelling, pain, and stiffness. The injection provides a window of significant pain relief during which the joint can be rehabilitated and strengthened. Common joints treated include the knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, and ankle.

Joint injections are performed under ultrasound guidance to ensure the medication reaches the joint space accurately. Relief typically begins within 24-48 hours and can last weeks to months depending on the severity of the inflammation. Joint injections are often used alongside PRP therapy: the corticosteroid provides immediate relief while PRP works on longer-term tissue repair.

Targets the small facet joints that connect vertebrae along the spine. When these joints become inflamed from arthritis, injury, or degenerative changes, they produce localized back or neck pain that worsens with extension (bending backward) or rotation. A corticosteroid and anesthetic are injected directly into or near the affected facet joint.

Facet injections serve a dual purpose: they reduce pain from the inflamed joint and confirm the facet joint as the source of symptoms. If the injection provides significant relief, it confirms the diagnosis and guides further treatment decisions. The procedure is performed under imaging guidance and takes about 15-20 minutes.

A more targeted version of the epidural injection that delivers medication to a single, specific nerve root. This is used when imaging shows compression or inflammation at multiple spinal levels and the physician needs to identify which nerve root is generating the patient's symptoms.

If the selective nerve root block at a specific level eliminates or significantly reduces the patient's pain, it confirms that nerve root as the pain generator. This diagnostic precision guides treatment decisions and provides critical documentation for workers' compensation cases where the exact level of injury must be established in the medical record.