A spinal injection is a procedure where medication is injected into the area around the spinal cord or nerves. This can be done for two main purposes:

• Diagnosis: To help identify the source of pain. A doctor may inject a contrast dye during a spinal injection. This dye shows up on X-rays, helping to pinpoint exactly where nerves are being irritated or compressed.
• Treatment:To relieve pain caused by inflammation or irritation of the spinal nerves. This is done by injecting corticosteroids, or steroids, which are medications that reduce inflammation.

There are different types of spinal injections, depending on the location of the pain and the specific condition being treated. The most common type is an epidural steroid injection, which is injected into the epidural space. This is the space between the bones of your spine and the outermost layer of tissue that surrounds your spinal cord. Other types of spinal injections include facet joint injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and medial branch blocks.

Spinal injections are typically performed on an outpatient basis, which means you won’t need to stay in the hospital overnight. The procedure itself usually takes only a few minutes. However, you may need to lie still for a short time afterward while the medication takes effect.