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Treating neck pain without surgery: Exploring Image guided Injection Treatments for Neck Pain

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Introduction

Neck pain is a common ailment that can significantly impact daily life, making even the simplest tasks challenging. For individuals seeking effective solutions without resorting to surgery, injection-based treatments provide a promising avenue. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into ten advanced injection treatments used for neck pain management. These treatments, backed by medical research and clinical evidence, offer patients the possibility of relief and improved quality of life.

  1. Cervical Epidural Injection 
    Cervical epidural injections
    target the epidural space around the cervical spine, delivering a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication. These injections can alleviate pain caused by herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and nerve compression, providing relief and facilitating functional improvement.
  2. Cervical Trigger Point Injection
    Muscle tension and trigger points often contribute to neck pain. Cervical trigger point injections involve the precise injection of medication into specific trigger points, releasing tension and reducing pain. These injections can be particularly effective for individuals with myofascial pain syndrome.
  3. Cervical Medial Branch Block
    Cervical medial branch blocks target the nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints. These injections can help diagnose the source of pain and provide temporary relief. If the block proves effective, it might be followed by more targeted treatments like radiofrequency ablation.
  4. Cervical Facet Joint Injection
    Cervical facet joint injections directly address pain originating from the facet joints. These joints can become inflamed due to arthritis or injury, leading to localized pain. The injections deliver anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate pain and improve mobility.
  5. Cervical Facet PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
    PRP therapy involves using the patient’s own blood components to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Cervical facet PRP injections have shown promise in providing long-lasting pain relief for patients with facet joint-related pain.
  6. Cervical Prolotherapy
    Prolotherapy involves injecting a solution into weakened ligaments or tendons to stimulate tissue healing and strengthen the area. Cervical prolotherapy can provide relief for individuals with ligament laxity or instability contributing to neck pain.
  7. Radiofrequency Ablation for Cervical Facet Joint Pain
    Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to interrupt the pain signals from the affected nerves. This treatment can provide longer-lasting pain relief for individuals with chronic facet joint pain.
  8. Cervical Transforaminal Injection
    Cervical transforaminal injections target the nerve roots as they exit the spine, delivering medication to reduce inflammation and pain. These injections can be particularly effective for conditions like herniated discs and nerve compression.
  9. Nerve Blocks
    Nerve blocks involve injecting anesthetic medication near specific nerves to provide temporary pain relief and help diagnose the source of pain. eg. Greater occipital Nerve block for Occipital Neuralgia.These injections can be valuable tools in tailoring further treatment plans
  10. Combination Therapies
    In some cases, a combination of these injection-based treatments might be recommended. Combining therapies can provide a multifaceted approach to addressing the various components contributing to neck pain.

AT ALLEVIATE we specialise in these advanced injection-based treatments which offer a ray of hope for individuals seeking relief from chronic neck pain without undergoing surgery. Each of these treatments addresses different aspects of neck pain, providing tailored solutions based on the underlying causes.

References 

  1. Huston CW. Cervical epidural steroid injections in the management of cervical radiculitis: interlaminar versus transforaminal. A review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009 Mar;2(1):30-42. doi: 10.1007/s12178-008-9041-4. Epub 2009 Jan 7. PMID: 19468916; PMCID: PMC2684951.
  2. Hammi C, Schroeder JD, Yeung B. Trigger Point Injection. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542196/
  3. Lawson GE, Nolet PS, Little AR, Bhattacharyya A, Wang V, Lawson CA, Ko GD. Medial Branch Blocks for Diagnosis of Facet Joint Pain Etiology and Use in Chronic Pain Litigation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 29;17(21):7932. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217932. PMID: 33137975; PMCID: PMC7662497.
  4. Le DT, Alem N. Facet Joint Injection. [Updated 2023 Jun 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572125/
  5. Baig MZ, Abdullah UEH, Muhammad A, Aziz A, Syed MJ, Darbar A. Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Treating Low Back Pain: A Review of the Current Literature. Asian Spine J. 2021 Feb;15(1):117-126. doi: 10.31616/asj.2019.0161. Epub 2020 Mar 13. PMID: 32160728; PMCID: PMC7904486.
  6. Hauser RA, Lackner JB, Steilen-Matias D, Harris DK. A Systematic Review of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Jul 7;9:139-59. doi: 10.4137/CMAMD.S39160. PMID: 27429562; PMCID: PMC4938120.
  7. Leggett LE, Soril LJ, Lorenzetti DL, Noseworthy T, Steadman R, Tiwana S, Clement F. Radiofrequency ablation for chronic low back pain: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Pain Res Manag. 2014 Sep-Oct;19(5):e146-53. doi: 10.1155/2014/834369. Epub 2014 Jul 28. PMID: 25068973; PMCID: PMC4197759.
  8. Anderberg L, Annertz M, Persson L, Brandt L, Säveland H. Transforaminal steroid injections for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: a prospective and randomised study. Eur Spine J. 2007 Mar;16(3):321-8. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0142-8. Epub 2006 Jul 12. PMID: 16835737; PMCID: PMC2200696.

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