19 May Are Steroid Injections Right for Your Back Pain?
Back pain can make everyday tasks hard, whether it’s bending over, lifting a grocery bag, or even sitting at your desk. If basic treatments aren’t giving you enough relief, you may be wondering if steroid injections could help. These shots deliver medicine right to the source of your pain. Here’s what you need to know about steroid injections for back pain.
What Are Steroid Injections?
Steroid injections combine a strong anti-inflammatory medicine (a corticosteroid) with a numbing agent. Your doctor guides a thin needle to the problem spot in your spine using an X-ray or ultrasound. The steroid reduces swelling, and the numbing agent provides quick relief.
Who Should Consider Them?
Steroid injections may be a good option if you:
- Have pain lasting more than four weeks
- Feel sharp pain or numbness that travels from your back into one leg (sciatica)
- Suffer from arthritis in your spinal joints (facet joints)
- Need relief so you can safely participate in physical therapy
How Do They Work?
- Consultation: Your doctor reviews your health history and may order imaging tests (such as an MRI) to pinpoint the source of your pain.
- Preparation: You lie on a procedure table while the skin over your back is cleaned.
- Guided Injection: Using live imaging, the doctor places the needle precisely into the inflamed area.
- Injection: The corticosteroid and numbing medicine are slowly injected.
- Recovery: You rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Most patients go home the same day. Some soreness may last a few days, but many feel relief within 24 to 48 hours.
Benefits of Steroid Injections
- Targeted Relief: Medicine goes exactly where you need it.
- Quick Onset: The numbing agent works immediately, and the steroid reduces swelling over the next few days.
- Non-Surgical: Injections can help you avoid or delay surgery.
- Therapy Booster: Less pain lets you fully engage in exercises to strengthen your back.
Possible Side Effects
While generally safe, injections carry some risks:
- Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site
- Short-term headache or dizziness
- Temporary increase in blood sugar for people with diabetes
- Rare complications such as infection or bleeding
Doctors use strict sterile techniques and careful imaging to keep risks low.
Are Steroid Injections Right for You?
Steroid injections can be a valuable tool if you:
- Have a specific diagnosis such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or facet arthritis
- Experience pain that persists despite home care and medications
- Need relief to safely begin physical therapy
A spine specialist will evaluate your condition, discuss potential benefits and risks, and help you decide if injections are the best next step.
If persistent back pain is limiting your life, schedule a consultation with our pain specialists today. We will review your symptoms, answer your questions, and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Book your appointment now and take the first step toward lasting back pain relief!