Treatments
Pain Injections in Phoenix, Arizona
At Atlas Pain Specialists we work with patients to help alleviate pain with the help of Pain Injections. We try to find the right solutions on a patient-to-patient basis.
Overview
What Are Pain Injections?
Pain injections, such as those containing steroids, are a synthetic version of hormones that are normally produced by the adrenal glands, two small glands found above the kidneys. When steroids are injected into a joint or muscle, they can reduce redness and swelling (inflammation) in the nearby area. This can help relieve your stiffness and pain in that area.
Also known as corticosteroid injections, steroid injections, are medications used to help reduce inflammation. Patients suffering from joint pain, arthritis, sciatica, and inflammatory bowel disease may be given a steroid injection. These injections are given by healthcare professionals. Here are some examples: triamcinolone, hydrocortisone, and methylprednisolone.
Benefits
Benefits of Pain Injections
01
Reduce Inflammation
Pain can often be a result of inflammation inside the body. Many times, there’s no visible physical injury. Inflammation will cause the space in our bodies becomes tight, and nerves become compressed. When this happens you may feel pain, tingling, or numbness. It can even cause a loss of sensation in some areas of the body. Pain injections reduce inflammation by administering anti-inflammatory medicines into the affected joints or muscles.
02
Lasting Pain Relief
When you take a pain reliever to manage your pain the results generally only last a few hours that is followed by unpleasant side effects. However, with pain injections the pain relief can extend a few months to a year or more. While it may take a few days or weeks for the pain injection to work, the results are longer lasting than taking pain relievers. You also can return for multiple injections over a specific period of time (there is a threshold).
03
Non-Invasive
Injections are an excellent alternative to surgery. Surgery generally requires a few days to a few months of recovery, while pain injections are typically an out-patient procedure and cause minimal recovery time. In many cases, you can return to your daily routine the next day.
04
Insurances May Cover Cost
Many pain management clinics accept insurances, including us, Atlas Pain Specialists. While there is no guarantee that your insurance provider will cover your pain injection many will cover either all or some of the costs. Check with your insurance provider and ask them what they cover.
Conditions Treated
Pain Conditions that Injections Can Treat
Here are some of the common pain conditions that pain injections can treat. Atlas Pain Specialists reviews each case separately and find the best pain management solution.
Types of Pain Management Injections and Their Benefits
Pain management injections are an effective way to reduce or eliminate pain without relying on medications or surgical treatments. These injections involve a needle that is inserted into the affected area, and the injection delivers medication directly to the source of pain.
Injections are often used in a variety of medical conditions, including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, and sport injuries.
The most common types of pain management injections include epidural steroid, nerve blocks, joint injections, trigger point injections, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
- Epidural Steroid Injections
This is an effective form of pain management, which involves injecting steroids directly into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord. This injection helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the lower back, neck, and other areas. The steroid injection is usually done by a doctor or a medical specialist and can be beneficial to those who suffer from chronic pain. - Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are another form of pain management injection that helps to block the transmission of nerve pain signals to the brain. This type of injection is usually done in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy or medications. Depending on the type of nerve block used, it can provide temporary or long-term relief from nerve pain. - Joint Injections
Joint injections, also known as corticosteroid injections, are a type of injection that helps by reducing inflammation and pain. The injections are usually done directly into the joint, providing short- to long-term relief from joint pain. Common side effects of joint injections include temporary redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as a possible risk of infection. It is important to note that a qualified doctor or medical specialist should only do joint injections. - Trigger Point Injections (TPI)
Trigger point injections, also known as trigger point therapy, are injections that help to reduce pain in the muscles. This injection involves injecting a small amount of local anesthetic into specific trigger points within the body, which helps block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Trigger point injections can provide temporary or long-term relief from chronic muscle pain. - Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP)
These types of injections are derived from the patient’s own blood. The platelets are isolated from the blood and then injected to the affected area. This helps to reduce inflammation, promote healing, and reduce pain. PRP injections usually last up to six months.
By understanding the different types of pain management injections available, you can better determine which type is best for your specific situation. Whether you suffer from chronic back pain, neck pain, or joint pain, these injections can provide much-needed relief. Talk to your doctor or medical specialist today to learn more about the different types of injections and how they may be able to help you manage your pain.
When to Consider Effective Treatment
When dealing with chronic pain, discomfort, or inflammation, pain injection is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting a local anesthetic, steroid, or medication directly into the affected area. This form of treatment not only offers immediate relief, it can also provide long-term, lasting results.
If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain or discomfort, here are some of the signs that indicate pain injections could be the best solution for you:
- You’ve been dealing with chronic pain for more than 6 months
If your pain has lasted for more than 6 months, Dr. Sean Ormond may recommend pain injections as part of your treatment regimen. - You’ve exhausted other treatments
If you’ve already tried other treatments and haven’t seen the results you were hoping for, pain injection may be the next step. - You’re dealing with a specific condition
Pain injection is an effective treatment for specific conditions, such as arthritis, spine injuries, nerve damage, back pain, headaches, and general chronic pain or inflammation.
Suppose you’re dealing with any of the above issues and have been considering pain injection. In that case, Dr. Sean Ormond can help you determine the best course of treatment for your specific diagnosis and situation.
Contact Atlas Pain Specialists today to learn more about your injection therapy and schedule your appointment with Dr. Ormond.
Accepted Insurances
No referral necessary!
Just call us and we’ll handle all the billing with your insurance company.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Still unsure? Ask us anything, or schedule a same-day appointment.
What are the 3 injections for knee pain?
The three most common knee injections are corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid (gel) and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Corticosteroid injections calm inflammation and often bring relief within days. Gel injections lubricate and cushion an arthritic joint, and PRP uses concentrated platelets from your own blood to support healing.
The right choice depends on your diagnosis, how severe the arthritis is and how you responded to earlier treatment. All three are given in the office and take only a few minutes. Your pain management doctor can recommend which injection suits your knee.
What kind of injections are given for back pain?
The most common is the epidural steroid injection, which places anti inflammatory medication near irritated spinal nerves to relieve sciatica and radiating pain. Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks treat pain from the small joints at the back of the spine.
Sacroiliac joint injections target pain where the spine meets the pelvis, and trigger point injections relax tight, painful muscle knots. We match the injection to the source of your pain after an exam and a review of your imaging.
Can trigger point injections make pain worse?
Trigger point injections can cause soreness at the injection site for a day or two, which is normal and does not mean the treatment failed. Some patients also notice a short increase in muscle tenderness before the knot releases.
Lasting worsening is uncommon. Gentle stretching, heat and staying active after the injection usually help the relief take hold. Call us if pain increases sharply or the site becomes red, warm or swollen.
How often can you get epidural injections for back pain?
Most doctors limit epidural steroid injections to about three or four per year in the same area of the spine, to limit steroid exposure. Medicare covers up to four sessions per spinal region in a 12 month period.
A repeat injection makes sense only if the previous one helped. Medicare, for example, requires at least 50% relief lasting three months or more before covering another one. If relief keeps fading quickly, we look at longer lasting options.
Can nerve block injections cause more pain?
They can cause temporary discomfort. The injection site may be sore for a day or two, and when a steroid is used, some patients have a short flare of pain for 24 to 72 hours before it starts working.
When the numbing medicine wears off after a few hours, your usual pain can return before the steroid takes effect, which can feel like a setback. Lasting increases in pain are rare, but call us if pain is severe or comes with fever, weakness or new numbness.
How do trigger point injections ease pain?
A trigger point is a tight knot in a muscle that can cause local pain and pain that spreads to other areas. During the injection, a small needle is placed directly into the knot and a local anesthetic, sometimes with a steroid, is injected.
The needle and medication help the tight muscle fibers release and break the cycle of spasm and pain. Relief can start within minutes and often lasts longer when the injection is paired with stretching or physical therapy. Your pain management doctor can tell you if trigger point injections fit your type of pain.
What are gel injections for knee pain?
Gel injections, also called viscosupplementation, use hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in joint fluid. In knee osteoarthritis, that fluid thins out, and the injection restores some of its lubricating and cushioning effect.
At Atlas, the gel treatment is given as three sessions one week apart. Relief builds over several weeks and can last up to about six months. Medicare and many insurance plans cover gel injections for knee osteoarthritis after other treatments have not worked. Ask your pain management doctor if gel injections are a good option for your knee.
What kind of injections are given for hip pain?
For hip arthritis, a corticosteroid injection into the joint, guided by imaging, is the most common option. Pain on the outside of the hip often comes from bursitis and is treated with an injection into the bursa.
PRP and hyaluronic acid are other options for some patients. When the pain actually comes from the lower back or the sacroiliac joint, an injection there is more effective. We confirm the source before choosing the injection.