Spinal Injection

Injection of local aneasthetic plus or minus local steroid are used to help diagnose the cource of the patient’s pain and also to reduce the patient’s symptoms where possible.

Epidural

Mr Chapple may recommend an epidural injection. This is an injection of a local corticosteroid into the epidural space. It is a means of treating the pain caused by irritation of the spinal nerves.

Lumbar and caudal epidurals are usually done without x-ray control while foraminal epidurals (nerve root blocks) are done with image intensification guidance to the area of the spine to allow accurate placement of the steroid to the nerve root...

This type on injection would normally be done on a separate time from the initial consultation.

See Patient information for more details.

Facet Joint Injection

Injection of the facet joints can be performed as an outpatient, if appropriate in the initial consultation.

This may give immediate relief from back pain originating from the facet joints. The facet joints are at the back of the spine and are a similar size to the knuckle joint in the hand.

Injection is done under xray control for accurate placement of the steroid.