An injection is one option for back, neck or leg pain. It can reduce pain, and sometimes it helps show where the pain is coming from. It does not fix every cause of pain, and it is not the right choice for every patient.
Dr Yee looks at your symptoms, examination and MRI together before suggesting an injection. The aim is to reduce pain so that you can move and recover, or to confirm the pain source before choosing the next step. Medication, physiotherapy and observation are considered first or alongside.
No. It may calm an irritated nerve and reduce pain, which can give time for recovery. It does not remove disc material, and the pain can return.
It varies. Some patients have relief for weeks to months, and some have little benefit. It cannot be promised in advance.
Risks include a temporary pain flare, bleeding, infection, allergic reaction, headache after an epidural injection, and, rarely, nerve injury. Steroid can raise blood sugar for a few days in patients with diabetes. These are discussed before the procedure, including whether you take blood thinners.
Selected injections are done with imaging guidance so the needle position can be confirmed. The choice depends on the site being treated.
An injection is planned after consultation. It is not usually done on the first visit unless the examination and imaging already point clearly to one source.
An injection treats pain. It does not treat the cause, such as a narrowed canal or a disc bulge. That is why Dr Yee reviews the scan and the examination together, and explains what the injection can and cannot do before you decide.
For non-emergency appointment requests at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital, patients or family members may contact the clinic team through WhatsApp or the appointment form.