Injection Therapy

Hasan Badday, MD - - Pain Management Specialist

Pacific Pain Management

Pain Management Specialist located in Irvine, CA & Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Badday helps patients manage their pain and discomfort with a variety of injection therapies from his comfortable office located in Irvine, CA & Los Angeles, CA.

Injection Therapy Q & A

What in injection therapy?

Injections of steroids or nerve blocks can be an effective form of pain management. The injections are typically administered by a healthcare professional. Injections can be made directly into the body part or area suffering pain including the spine, other joints of the body, and muscles. Common injections include:

Facet joint injections
Epidural steroid injections
Sacroiliac joint steroid injections
Selective nerve root block
Lumbar sympathetic block

What are facet joint injections?

Facet joint injections involve either a anesthetic or steroid and are administered for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Facet joints are the small joints of the spine which provide stability and guide motion. Arthritis, injury, or mechanical stress can cause inflammation and pain. The injection will be administered in a hospital or doctor’s office with x-ray guidance. The patient will wear a gown and lie face down on a treatment table. A local anesthetic will be applied to the area to be injected and the patient may opt for a mild sedative. The needle will be guided into the medial branch nerve and the anesthetic and anti-inflammatory solution will be injected. The procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Following the injection, the patient will rest in a recovery area for approximately a half hour. There may be some lingering effects from the sedation, so the patient should take care for at least 24 hours following the treatment and have someone drive him or her home.

What is an epidural steroid injection?

An epidural steroid injection is typically used to provide anesthesia during surgery, analgesia following surgery, or for diagnosis and treatment of inflammation in the epidural space. This is the area around the outer covering of the spinal cord, extending from the skull to the tailbone. It contains the fat, blood vessels and nerves that pass through the spinal cord. As with the facet joint injections, the patient will wear a gown and the injection will be made directly into the patient’s spine, after a local anesthetic and sedative have been applied.

Are there any lifestyle changes I should make to manage my pain?

Dr. Badday may suggest that any patients suffering from migraines should keep a journal of their symptoms and pain. This log should include information on food and drink, the time of the menstrual cycle for women, and other details about the day when the migraine strikes. When you meet with the doctor regarding your headaches, take the journal with you as it may reveal triggers which can then be avoided. You will need to tell your doctor all medications you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements, medications, or combinations of the two, these can trigger migraines and headaches. Dr. Badday may suggest stress reduction techniques as migraines can be stress related as well. There are a variety of common triggers for migraines including: