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Injection Therapy FAQs

October 8, 2019 | By | In: Injection Therapy, joint pain, low back pain, Pain, PRP Therapy

Therapeutic Injections for Pain Management:

You have a restless night tossing and turning from back pain, shoulder or hip. You’ve tried everything from icing and taking and over the counter ibuprofen. Nothing seems to work.The pain is now coming in waves and intensifying. It’s probably time to see a doctor.

Athletes, individuals with labor intensive jobs, or weekend warriors are no strangers to those aches and pains. You overused your shoulder muscles, twisted your ankle, pulled a muscle in your back listing a heavy object at work. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation help but not completely. You may need injection therapy.

FAQ’s About Injection Therapy:

Injection Therapy for joint pain, back pain and neck pain

How does injection work in the body?

An intramuscular injection is a technique used to deliver a medication deep into the muscles. This allows the medication to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.

What injections are given for pain?

These injections include:

Injection targets

Injections used for pain relief can calm inflamed joints and tissues.

Common targets for injection therapy include:

  • Epidural space (Back Pain, Sciatica and Neck Pain). Epidural injections target the area around the spinal cord where nerve “roots” exit and extend to other parts of the body.
  • Tendons and bursae. Injections used for tendinitis—inflammation of a tendon, the tough, fibrous cord of tissue that connects muscle to bone. Steroids may also be used to calm down an inflamed bursa (bursitis). Bursae are cushioning pads of tissue that reduce friction between muscles and tendons as they move across bones and other joint structures.
  • Joints. Cortisone is sometimes injected into a joint to calm inflammation related to arthritis. Common targets are the knee and the facet joints in the spine.

What is a therapeutic injection used for?

Spinal injections are used in two ways. First, they can be performed to diagnose the source of back, leg, neck, or arm pain (diagnostic). Second, spinal injections can be used as a treatment to relieve pain (therapeutic).

What injection therapy is used for pain?

Epidural steroid injections. When inflammation within the spinal column causes nerve-root irritation and swelling, doctors sometimes administer a potent anti-inflammatory medication to reduce inflammation and ease pain.

Do epidural steroid injections work?

According to most studies, more than 50% of patients will find pain relief with epidural steroid injections. This pain relief will be temporary. For some it will only last a few weeks or months, but it can last for up to a year after the procedure. This can allow patients time to resolve the underlying cause of their pain through physical therapy or exercise. Epidural steroid injections can also be given multiple times–up to three times a year–for longer lasting pain relief.

What steroid is used for joint injections?

Corticosteroid Agents by Relative Potencies, Duration, and Dose. Low-solubility agents, favored for joint injection, should not be used for soft tissue injection because of the increased risk of surrounding tissue atrophy. Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol) is often the agent selected for soft tissue injection.

Are nerve block injections dangerous?

Nerve blocks are very safe, but like any medical procedure, a nerve block carries some risks. In general, nerve blocks carry fewer side effects than most other types of pain medications. … damage to nerves — rare and temporary.

How much to pain injections cost?

The use of spinal injections has been growing rapidly with statistics reporting a 629 percent increase in Medicare expenditures for epidural steroid injections over the last decade. Back pain injections can cost a whopping $600 per shot.

Typical costs of injections:

The costs of the injections vary, depending on the amount used, the area to which the shot is administered, and the condition it is used to treat.

Insured patients typically brings a copay of $10 -$50, or coinsurance of 10%-50%.) Usage, dosage, insurance requirements will determine costs. Injections, depending on insurance rage from $25-$600 on average.

Injections are typically covered by health insurers if deemed medically necessary, though there may be restrictions. Some insurance providers stipulate that if there is no documented pain relief after two injections, no further injection will be considered medically necessary.

What Is PRP Therapy:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injection therapy allows for the use of an individual patient’s own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.

PRP injection procedures commonly used to treat the following conditions:

  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Shoulder, Hip and Spine.
  • Rotator Cuff Tears.
  • Chronic Plantar Fasciitis.
  • ACL Injuries.
  • Pelvic Pain and Instability.
  • Back and Neck Injuries.
  • Tennis Elbow.
  • Ankle Sprains.

Does insurance cover PRP injections?

Some insurance companies cover PRP therapy for certain conditions. Check with your doctor or call your insurance carrier. PRP injections may be performed at a reasonable expense in situations where insurance coverage is lacking. While some insurance companies may cover PRP injections, others will not, which can lead to an expense anywhere between $200 and $600 dollars or more out of pocket from the patient. Insurance will usually pay for the office visit and procedure fee. PRP is now accepted by most sports organizations.

 

Got Questions? Contact the doctors at Skyline PMR for more information or to set up an appointment:

 

Dr. Michael Monfett, MD – Pain & Injury Doctor
https://www.skylinepmr.com 
40 Broad St #601, New York, NY 10004
(212) 797-1200
Resources:https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/spinal-injections/
https://www.healthline.com/health/nerve-block
https://www.healthline.com/health/prp
https://www.hss.edu/condition-list_prp-injections.asp

Platelet-rich plasma therapy for pain relief


https://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0715/p283.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/back-pain-what-you-can-expect-from-steroid-injections
https://health.costhelper.com/corticosteroid-injection.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/many-needlessly-getting-steroid-injections-back-pain-bioethicist-says-1C6547576

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