Spinal Injections
Persistent back or neck pain can significantly impact your mobility, sleep, and overall quality of life. When inflammation or nerve irritation within the spine is contributing to symptoms, spinal injections can offer targeted relief.
At Alton Pain Clinic, we provide specialist spinal injection treatments designed to reduce inflammation, ease nerve-related pain, and help restore comfortable movement.
What Are Spinal Injections?
Spinal injections are minimally invasive procedures that deliver anti-inflammatory medication, usually a corticosteroid combined with a local anaesthetic, directly to the source of spinal pain. These injections target specific structures in the spine, such as irritated nerve roots, inflamed joints, or surrounding soft tissues.
By placing medication precisely where inflammation is occurring, spinal injections can help reduce swelling and pressure on spinal nerves, leading to meaningful pain relief and improved function.
Types of Spinal Injections
There are several types of spinal injections, each used for different sources of pain:
- Epidural steroid injections: Placed into the epidural space around the spinal cord to reduce nerve inflammation and relieve back and leg pain (often linked to sciatica).
- Facet joint injections: Target the small joints between vertebrae that can become inflamed due to arthritis or injury.
- Medial branch blocks: Injects anaesthetic near the nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints, helping both diagnosis and treatment.
- Sacroiliac joint injection: Addresses pain originating from the joint connecting the pelvis to the lower spine.
Each type is carefully selected based on your symptoms, examination findings, and any relevant imaging.
Conditions Treated with Spinal Injections
Spinal injections may be recommended for a range of musculoskeletal and nerve-related conditions, including:
- Sciatica or nerve root irritation
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint arthritis
- Chronic lower back or neck pain
These injections are often considered when conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, medication, or activity modification have not provided sufficient relief.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Your appointment begins with a detailed consultation and assessment to understand your symptoms and functional limitations. If a spinal injection is appropriate, the procedure is explained clearly before proceeding.
The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure precise placement of the medication near the affected structure. The procedure usually takes around 15–30 minutes, and most patients can return home the same day with minimal downtime.
Pain relief may begin within a few days, although full benefit often develops over one to two weeks as inflammation settles.
Benefits of Spinal Injections
- Targeted reduction of inflammation and nerve irritation
- Relief from back, neck, or radiating limb pain
- Minimally invasive alternative to surgery
- Improved mobility and daily function
- Supports physiotherapy and long-term rehabilitation
For many patients, reducing pain allows them to engage more fully in rehabilitation exercises and return to normal activities with greater confidence.
Part of a Comprehensive Pain Management Plan
Spinal injections are not a standalone cure but form part of a broader, personalised treatment approach. At Alton Pain Clinic, injections are combined with physiotherapy advice, strengthening programmes, and lifestyle guidance to address the underlying cause of pain and support long-term spinal health.
PATIENT REVIEWS
FAQs
Some patients notice relief within a few days, though full benefit can take up to two weeks.
Pain relief may last several weeks to a few months, depending on the condition and individual response.
Yes, when performed by experienced clinicians using imaging guidance to ensure accuracy and safety.
Most patients can walk immediately afterwards but should avoid strenuous activity for a short period.
Yes. Physiotherapy and exercise are usually recommended alongside injections to achieve the best long-term results.