When to Consider Injections for Your Back Pain
May 09, 2025
When your back screams for attention, you’ve probably tried everything: From heat and ice to rest and pain meds. Now, still without the lasting relief you’re after, you find yourself wondering if injections can help relieve your back pain.
At Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in San Antonio and Live Oak, Texas, Sergio Alvarado, MD, and our expert team take a personalized approach to back pain. We evaluate your symptoms, perform a comprehensive exam, then tailor your treatment plan to deliver lasting relief.
Read on to learn more about how various injections work to ease back pain — and find out if they might be a good option for you.
There are four primary types of injections for back pain, varying from corticosteroids, anesthesia, to neural blockades that block pain signals from a problematic nerve.
We inject an anti-inflammatory medication into the space surrounding your spinal cord and nerves. The medication, which is either a steroid or corticosteroid, can be very effective for reducing pain for a longer stretch of time.
These injections work quickly to temporarily reduce or eliminate pain from herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and sciatic nerve pain that radiates from your spine down your legs.
Your spinal column has small joints called facet joints that help your spine manage weight and remain flexible. If you experience localized back pain caused by an injury or arthritis, we may inject a mix of anesthetics and steroids into these joints to ease your pain.
Nerve block injections require injecting anesthesia along with an anti-inflammatory medication near specific “triggered” nerves to block their ongoing pain signals. This blocking brings pain relief and can also serve as a diagnostic tool to better pinpoint the exact source of your pain.
Tense muscles can turn into knots (called trigger points) that refer pain to surrounding nerves. Stretching and physical therapy isn’t always enough to relax these muscles, but injections of a local anesthetic can help.
If you’ve tried other treatments like physical therapy, chiropractic care, lifestyle changes, and oral medications and are still dealing with back pain, injections may be a good option. They can help you experience targeted relief, reduce inflammation, and improve your mobility.
In some cases, injections are a useful diagnostic tool. They can help pinpoint the source of your back pain.
The main drawback of using injections for back pain? The relief they provide — although fast and effective — is temporary. Typically, we use them in conjunction with other treatments that aim to advance healing during your pain-free stage, like physical therapy.
If you’re ready to find out if injection therapy is the right approach for your back pain, our team at Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in Live Oak and San Antonio, Texas, can help. Call or click online to schedule an appointment today.