M ost people turn to modern science for help when they are sick or injured. We go straight to the doctor who then gives us a pill. Taking prescribed medications has become the norm in modern society, but medication is not always the best solution. With pills or tablets, there’s always a chance that some of the medicine may not be fully absorbed and therefore won’t reach the target areas.

When trying to deal with pain that is the result of an injured back, people may want to look i nto options other than medications. One of the latest technologies that deal directly with the issue of pain management and its core causes is the emerging science of injection therap y . Injection therapy techniques are often performed by radiologists, neurosurgeons , and other specialists who can target the exact areas or sources of pain. These techniques are often much more effective than swallowing a pill. Although there are several different therapies available, injection therapies generally fall into several basic groups.

One category consists of block ing using local anesthetics, steroid injections, and trigger point injections. In addition , there are other special procedures that use electrical currents to stimulate the nerves in the distressed areas, as well as techniques to cement fractures of the vertebrae.

Nerve block injections are designed to do just that. Their purpose is to interrupt pain signals as they travel to the brain. Using existing technologies, doctors can block virtually every nerve cell that has a pathway to the brain. In this way, a single injection or series of injections can head off all persistent pain and eliminate the need for medications over long periods of time. The reason why nerve blocks work so well is still a mystery, but one theory is that the temporary blocka g e of a damaged nerve signal quells the constant bombardment of pain signals and gives the damaged nerves a chance to rest.

Steroid injections are another avenue that sufferers of back pain can take . These are powerful anti-inflammatory agents and although they can be taken orally, doctors often inject then to treat back pain. Although they are different from the variety of steroid that athletes may use to bulk up, the y are still not without risk. S teroid s can destroy cartilage and make bones brittle. Injections of steroids can also hamper the workings of the entire immune system.