When Is It Time to Consider Injections?

If you suffer from chronic pain and have tried traditional pain relief methods without finding relief, it may be time for injection therapy — you deserve a pain-free, high quality of life.

At Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio, in San Antonio and Live Oak, Texas, Dr. Sergio Alvarado and our expert team evaluates the cause of your back, neck, or joint pain and your medical history. We create a customized treatment plan that could include one or more injections to help you attain effective, long-lasting pain relief. 

Why do injections work? 

Injections are fast-working because they deliver substances straight to the site of the pain, where they can be quickly absorbed. Oral medications have to work their way through your gastrointestinal system first, so their pain-relieving effects take longer to make an impact. 

Injections are efficient and localized, so delivering the medication where it’s needed most is simple. Some have sustained-release formulas, so they continue working over time. Many people quickly experience reduced inflammation, diminished pain and stiffness, and improved range of motion and mobility. 

Additionally, most injections are also minimally invasive, meaning you can get an injection and go on about your day without much interruption — and zero downtime. 

When should you consider injections? 

Traditional pain treatments include rest, medication, and physical therapy. But these don’t always work as well as you’d like. If this sounds familiar,  injections are a possible next step.
Injections send customized pain-relief substances directly into the affected area so you can attain quick relief. 

Injections offer pain relief from conditions as varied as arthritis, degenerative disc disease,  migraines, muscle tension, and other chronic pain conditions. Additionally, injections can help you avoid surgery or heavy medication, and they come with fewer adverse side effects. 

Types of injections 

Different types of pain call for different injections. Many are minimally invasive, though some require deeper penetration.  Some of the injection therapies we offer include:

• Cervical steroid injections
• Sciatic nerve blocks 
• Botox® injections for headache relief 
• Thoracic epidural steroid injections 
• Various nerve block injections 
• Trigger point injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

If needed, injections can even help diagnose your symptoms. Diagnostic injections into specific joints or ligaments can help our team isolate specific pain areas or confirm suspicions about the source of back pain, neck pain, or other conditions. 

Depending on your diagnosis and symptoms, we may recommend more than one type of injection or even other treatments, such as acupuncture or radiofrequency ablation. Injections work well with other treatments. 

If you’re tired of living with chronic pain, our team at Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio can  evaluate your pain, medical history, and goals to develop a treatment plan that will help you. Call or click online to schedule an appointment at your nearest office in San Antonio or Live Oak, Texas, today.