Injections Specialist

What are pain management injections?

Pain management injections help relieve acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain caused by illnesses or injuries. They can help accelerate the body's natural healing and break the cycle of chronic inflammation and pain. They provide a quick, convenient, and minimally invasive way to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and encourage your body’s healing process.

If you regularly experience back or joint pain and it affects your ability to work or exercise, pain management injections could provide lasting relief.

What conditions can benefit from injections?

At CoreSmart, Dr. Friedman uses injections to manage various conditions, including:

• Chronic pain
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Sports injuries
• Work injuries
• Personal injuries
• Arthritis
• Sciatica and Radiculopathy
• Spinal Stenosis

Dr. Friedman can work with you to determine if you will be a good candidate for pain management injections.

What are the types of pain management injections?

At CoreSmart, Dr. Friedman offers several types of pain management injections, including:

Epidural injections

An epidural injection is a shot that Dr. Friedman injects into the space around your spinal cord. You might be a candidate for an epidural injection if you have spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. Some patients may need only one injection, but two or three injections may be needed to provide significant pain relief.

Joint injections

A joint injection relieves pain or inflammation affecting one (or several) joints, often caused by arthritis, injury, or disorder. Dr. Friedman administers a shot into your elbow, knee, shoulder, or another joint during a joint injection. The shot relieves inflammation and enhances your mobility. For many patients, extended pain relief begins within 2-3 days of the injection. It may be necessary to repeat the procedure one or more times to receive its benefits in some cases.

Facet joint injections

A facet joint injection helps relieve pain or inflammation affecting your facet joints –– the joints that connect your vertebrae. Facet joint injections provide a quick and effective way to relieve lower back pain and other similar conditions. A facet joint injection or medial nerve branch blockade is used to help confirm thediagnosis and the source of a patient's pain. Up to 2 injections may be given per year. If beneficial,  another procedure such as Radiofrequency Ablation, Cryoablation, Chemical Neurolytics can be utilized to provide long term relief.

Peripheral nerve blocks

Dr. Friedman might recommend a nerve block if you experience chronic pain due to nerve damage. A nerve block uses medication to prevent nerve signals from reaching your brain. That relieves pain and improves your mobility. The duration of the benefit from the injection varies depending on the type of medication administered and the goal of the procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation

If injections don’t provide lasting relief, Dr. Friedman might recommend radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted radiofrequency energy to heat up nerve tissue. This disrupts its ability to communicate with the brain, blocking pain signals, and providing relief. Multiple treatments may be required. Dr. Friedman is also well versed in Cryoablation as well as Chemical Ablation. These later techniques are not always covered by insurance. 

Additional pain management injections are discussed in more detail here.

What type of pain management injections will benefit me?

The type of pain management injections that will most benefit you depends on several factors, including your symptoms' underlying cause and severity. After a review of your medical records and a physical exam, Dr. Friedman can make treatment recommendations.

To receive pain management injections, make an appointment at CoreSmart by calling our office at 561-923-9599 or visiting us online today.