Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 24 Injections

 

Dear Reader,

I read the attached article recently. This along with the last visit to my pain provider has got me thinking. I've had so many injections, have tried PT several times and tried several different alternatives. I'm stuck, in pain all the time.

I'm going to list the injections that I've had, that have never worked except for the day they were done. Usually, I left the office after being sedated and having some powerful pain killers going through me. The last 2 were done without anything and it was terrible.

Epidural Steroid Injections: are anti-inflammatory steroid injections used to minimize pressure and inflammation in specific nerves in your back. This type of injection is often used to treat pain that radiates from your spine out into your limbs. The cause of radiating pain is usually the result of an irritated or compressed nerve.

Facet Joint Injections: are minimally invasive types of injection used to block the pain from inflamed facet joints. These joints are between the vertebrae in the spine and cause pain for a variety of health conditions and circumstances.

Sacroiliac Joint Block: are injections administered between your sacrum and pelvic bones. Specifically, the sacroiliac joint in your pelvis helps transfer weight from your body’s legs and upper body.

Medial Branch Block: are another type of nerve block medication that also involve the facet joints found between the vertebrae of the spine discussed previously. The medical nerves are connected to the facet joint. Thus, the medial branch blocks are injections administered in these small medial nerves of the spine to relieve pain.

Radiofrequency Ablation: is a type of minimally invasive procedure that uses radio-frequency energy to disable certain nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Specifically, the injection uses heat to damage nerve tissues causing pain. This is done by first identifying exactly what nerves are causing your pain by using guided fluoroscopy. Then, radiofrequency energy is applied to the targeted area by using a small needle.

These injections have a very small success rate. Pain providers are more than willing to dole them out and Insurance companies are more than willing to pay for it.

We all depend on the medical community. If we're sick, injured or in constant pain, we depend on them to help make us well.

You're in Pain and Your Doctors Won't Help? Blame the Opioid Backlash (newsweek.com)