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Injection Therapy

Injection therapy is intended to be a means to an end. A successful injection can relieve pain long enough to have the patient start therapy, which in turn can alleviate the need for more invasive treatment options. Also, the use of spinal injections can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic. During an injection procedure, the trained physician uses a C-arm radiological device to visualize the spine and determine the precise location where the pain relieving medication will be injected. Once the precise disc level is determined, and the tiny needle is inserted into the correct area around the nerve root, medication is then injected to reduce inflammation around the nerve root.

The goal is to provide the patient with enough pain relief to bridge from inactivity to physical therapy, where back problems can be treated with special exercises and stretches. For years, spine physicians have used cortisone injections, epidural steroid injections, trigger point injections and nerve blocks to relieve pain in the spine.

Dr. Craig Humphreys may refer patients to spine specialists affiliated with Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna who specialize in these types of spinal injections.

Injection procedures can include the following:

LUMBAR

  • Caudal Epidural
  • Celiac Plexus Injection
  • Facet Block
  • Medial Branch Nerve Block
  • Hardware Injection
  • Hypogastric Plexus
  • Pars Injection
  • Piriformis Injection
  • SI Joint Injection
  • Selective Nerve Root
  • Sympathetic
  • Translaminar Epidural
  • Intra Articular Hip Injection
  • Facet cyst aspiration
  • Lumbar plexus
  • Discography

THORACIC

  • Costovertebral Joint Injection
  • Intercostal
  • Medial Branch
  • Translaminar Epidural
  • Thoracic Selective Nerve Root
  • Thoracic Facet
  • Discography
 

CERVICAL

  • Atlantoaxial Joint Injection
  • Atlantooccipital Joint Injection
  • Occipital Nerve
  • Facet Joint
  • Medial Branch
  • Selective Nerve Root
  • Stellate Ganglion
  • Discography
  • Epiduroscopy
  • IDET
  • Nucleoplasty
  • Disc DeKompressor
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation / Implantation
  • Spinal cord stimulation / Implantation
  • Radiofrequency cervical, thoracic, lumbar, SI joint
  • Trigger point
  • Bursa Injection

Epidural Injections

Epidural injections of cortisone may reduce the inflammation and/or swelling of the nerves in the epidural space resulting in decreased pain, tingling and numbness. The procedure involves inserting a needle of a long lasting steroid (cortisone) through the skin and deeper tissues into the epidural space. The epidural space is the area surrounding the spinal cord and the nerves coming out of it. One or more injections may be needed to relieve symptoms.

Facet Injection

The facet joints act as the hinges in our back, connecting alll the vertebral bones in our back yet still allowing us to bend and twist with ease. The illustration above shows a facet injection in progress.

Sometimes from injury or age, these joints can become irritated or they can develop bone spurs, which makes movement painful. To relieve pain symptoms and restore range of motion, the spine physician may inject medication into the facet joint. The medicine in a way can act like WD40 on a rusty door hinge, restoring movement. Typically injections are done as a way to bridge the patient to therapy so the therapist can help the patient retain mobility after the effects of the medication wear off.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are painful tissues in and around muscles. Pressure can cause an aching or sharp pain sensation. Trigger point injections are the administration of a local anesthetic and steroid medication in the muscles where pain is occurring. The injection may relieve spasms of the muscle and may last from weeks to months.

Sacro-Iliac (SI) Joint Injections

A long lasting steroid (cortisone) is injected into the sacro-iliac joint to help decrease inflammation and/or swelling of tissue in the joint space. As a result, patients may experience reduced pain and other symptoms caused by inflammation of the joint. The sacro-iliac joint is located in the low back area. The procedure involves inserting a needle through the skin and deeper tissues into the SI joint. More than one injection may be needed for symptom relief.

Rhizotomy

Rhizotomy is where the physician may use heat or cold to intentionally damage the ability of a problematic nerve to telegraph pain signals to the brain.

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Patient Success Stories
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Surgery repairs damaged disc and helps Jill get back to life!

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Local veternarian back to helping patients after Spinal Stenosis.

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Surgery helps Sherry get back to traveling the world.

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Bob

Surgery repairs damaged disc and returns outdoorsman to activity.

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Paramedic gets back to life with Dr. Craig Humphreys.

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Healthcare CEO back on the job after pain relieving spine surgery.

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School administrator recovers from back pain without surgery.

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Dog sled champion back on the trails after non-surgical treatment.

Educational Resources
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View medical illustrations that help you understand pain symptoms.

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Learn about special exercises and stretches that can relieve pain and help rehab muscles and joints.

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Learn about minimally invasive surgery techniques that enable patients to go home the same day.

Where to find us

Dr. Craig Humphreys is referred complex back pain and neck pain patients from across Alaska. Dr. Craig Humphreys is the only spine surgeon in the State of Alaska to be included in SpineCenterNetwork.com, an exclusive national listing of spine centers of excellence that meet credentialing criteria. With a main office in Soldotna, Alaska, Dr. Craig Humphreys is a resource for those living on the Kenai Peninsula, residents of Anchorage as well as the Mat-Su Valley, including Wasilla, Palmer and Eagle River.

Physician Bios

S. Craig Humphreys, MD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeon


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