Nerves run throughout the body and collect in the spinal column. If you’ve been experiencing back pain, you might be able to find relief through a selective nerve root injection, which targets this nervous system hub. To determine if this treatment is right for you, learn more about the unique pain injection below.

What Is a Selective Nerve Root Injection?

This pain injection is used to treat selective nerve root blocks, or irritation where the nerves exit the spine. Specialists can inject the inflamed or compressed area with cortisone—an enduring steroid that reduces pain and inflammation. In some cases, the injection may also be used to numb the nerve and see if symptoms persist, which would indicate that the source of the pain lies elsewhere.

What Are the Benefits?

Most people who receive these injections have chronic pain in a specific area of the spine or pain that radiates through the extremities. For example, if you have a slipped disc in your lower or lumbar vertebrae, you may experience discomfort or tingling down the back of your leg caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve. An injection can lower inflammation and decrease the pressure on the nerve, alleviating discomfort.
These injections are often preferred alternatives to more invasive treatments, such as surgery. Unlike an epidural injection, the selective nerve root injection is delivered straight to the nerve root, offering a better chance of targeted relief without widespread numbness.

What Should You Expect From the Treatment?

Before administering the pain injection, a specialist will use a fluoroscopic X-ray to determine the irritated nerve root's exact location. After applying a local anesthetic, they'll then insert the needle containing the cortisone into the root. Usually, you can expect relief within three to seven days after the injection. Pain relief can last anywhere from weeks to months, and injections can be repeated three times a year.

If you believe you could benefit from a selective nerve root injection, turn to the specialists at iSpine Pain Physicians. With locations in Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Chaska, Shakopee, Sartell and Delano, MN, they help clients throughout the Twin Cities area. Whether you’re experiencing sciatica, arthritis or other forms of chronic pain, you can rely on their personalized treatments to improve your quality of life. To learn more about their various pain injections, visit their website. To schedule an appointment today, call (763) 201-8191.