If you deal with neck pain, you’re far from being the only one. In fact, about 80% of people will deal with neck pain at some point in their life. Out of that number, about 20%-50% of people will struggle with chronic neck pain.
However, just because you have neck pain doesn’t mean it has to be permanent. One way you can get over this issue is with neck pain injections.
If you’re interested in learning more about how neck pain specialists can give you injections to get rid of your pain, keep reading. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about neck pain injections in Maryland.
What Are Injections for Chronic Neck Pain?
Injections for neck pain are one form of neck pain management. These treatments are generally given to patients who have ongoing neck pain issues that they can’t seem to shake.
There are three major types of neck pain treatments in Maryland:
Let’s check out each of these in a bit more detail.
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Epidural Steroid Injections
In this injection, neck pain doctors in Maryland will insert steroids into the epidural space in the spine. They’ll also inject the membrane covering your neck’s nerve root. The treatment reduces inflammation, lowering neck pain in turn.
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Nerve Root Blocks
If you have a damaged bone spur or spinal disk, you might need a nerve root block. With this treatment, doctors inject the spinal nerve root with a steroid to reduce swelling and inflammation.
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Facet Joint Injections
If your face joints are to blame for your neck pain, your neck pain doctor may inject a steroid in the facet joint. This joint is located behind the vertebral bones.
When to Consider Injections for Chronic Neck Pain Relief
If you’ve been struggling with neck pain for a long time, neck pain injections might be a good choice. That’s especially true if you’re struggling with herniated disks, radiating pain due to nerve compression, or even aging.
Just keep in mind that there are a few situations that might disqualify you from receiving the treatment:
- Active infections
- Bleeding problems
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Allergy to steroids
- Taking blood thinners
Before you sign up for a neck pain injection, make sure to speak to your doctor. He or she will be able to advise you as to whether or not this procedure is appropriate for your situation.
How to Prepare for Neck Pain Injections
To prepare for your neck pain injections, you’ll want to make sure to give your doctor as much information about your medical history as possible.
Let your doctor know about any medications you take, too. He or she will be able to tell you if you should avoid them before your injections or not.
Then, your doctor may prescribe a few tests. These will help qualify you as a candidate for the procedure.
If you’re approved as a candidate for neck pain injections, you’ll likely have to fast in the hours leading up to your injections. You usually won’t have to stop taking medications unless you’re on blood thinners or anti-inflammatories.
The Neck Injection Procedure: What to Expect
If your doctor approved you for neck injections, good for you! You’re on the right track to getting rid of chronic neck and shoulder pain for good. Here’s what to expect during your procedure.
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Step 1: Preparing the Injection Site
First, your doctor will run a few tests to figure out which part of the neck or spine he or she should inject. They’ll usually try to inject you as close to the source of the pain as possible.
To figure out the injection site, doctors take an X-ray. Then, they deliver an anesthetic to your injection site to help reduce any discomfort.
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Step 2: Inserting the Injection
After the doctor has determined where to inject you, he or she will add a contrast dye to the medication. This helps him see where the medication flows in the body.
Then, the doctor will pierce the neck with the needle. The needle will go between your vertebrae and sit in the epidural space.
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Step 3: Injecting the Steroid
Finally, with the needle in place, the doctor will inject the steroid. Keep in mind that he or she may need to inject more than one time in order to fully treat your neck pain.
Recovering from Neck Pain Injections
Once your neck pain injection is complete, you’ll be moved to a recovery area. You’ll stay there for about an hour so that doctors can monitor you and ensure that there are no negative side effects of the treatment.
You may notice some numbness or weakness in the legs, but this usually wears off in about a day. Still, it’s a good idea to have a friend or family member drive you home.
You should also plan to spend the next 12 hours resting. By the next day, you should be fine to go about your daily activities.
Results of Neck Pain Injections
After you get your neck pain injection, you might still notice some soreness. Be patient, as it can take a week or two for you to start feeling the full effects of the medication.
On top of that, the injection site may feel sore and painful for a few days. This is normal, so give your body time to fully recover.
If you still find your neck pain persists, your doctor may bring you back into the office for follow-up injections. These usually take place somewhere between one and four weeks after your first injection.
You should also note that neck pain injections aren’t permanent. They can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few years before you need to get a new injection.
Beat Chronic Neck Pain Once and For All
Now that you know a bit more about neck pain injections, you might want to consider using them for chronic neck pain. These types of injections can provide relief for those who are in serious discomfort from neck pain.
Are you ready to schedule your own neck pain injection consultation? Call us today and we’ll help you book an appointment to see a neck pain specialist.