Neural injections, often a part of neural therapy, involve the precise administration of local anesthetics, like procaine or lidocaine, into various body tissues. This procedure aims to treat chronic pain by targeting specific areas related to nerve function.
How Neural Injections Work
Neural therapy is based on the theory that disruptions in the body's electrical system can cause chronic pain. By injecting local anesthetics into key areas, neural injections are believed to help restore normal nerve function and reduce pain.
Target Areas for Neural Injections:
These injections are not random; they are administered to very specific locations. These locations include:
- Scars: Scar tissue can interfere with nerve function.
- Trigger Points: These are hyper-irritable spots in muscles associated with pain.
- Acupuncture Points: Injections at these points may stimulate energy flow.
- Tendon and Ligament Insertions: Areas where tendons and ligaments attach to bones.
- Peripheral Nerves: Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
- Autonomic Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cells that control involuntary functions.
- Epidural Space: The space around the spinal cord, often for pain management.
- Other Tissues: Additional sites may be targeted depending on the specific pain conditions.
The Procedure
The procedure usually involves using a fine needle to inject a small amount of the local anesthetic. The injected substance temporarily blocks nerve signals, potentially allowing the body's self-healing mechanisms to take over.
Local Anesthetics
Commonly used local anesthetics in neural therapy include:
- Procaine: A short-acting anesthetic with a low potential for allergic reactions.
- Lidocaine: A more potent anesthetic that can provide longer-lasting pain relief.
Goals of Neural Injections
The aim of neural injections is not just to mask pain, but to:
- Reduce Chronic Pain: By targeting specific areas of nerve dysfunction.
- Restore Normal Nerve Function: By releasing abnormal tissue and nerve activity
- Promote Healing: By stimulating the body's natural healing processes.
Example
For example, if someone has chronic pain related to a past injury that left significant scarring, a neural injection into the scar tissue might help reduce pain and improve mobility by restoring proper nerve communication in that area.
In Summary
Neural injections are a type of therapy that uses local anesthetics to alleviate chronic pain by targeting specific tissues and nerves throughout the body. It is based on the principle of disrupting pain signals to allow for improved healing.
