Spine Injections in Baghdad: Diagnosis and Treatment of Back and Nerve Pain

Spine injections are one of the most powerful and versatile tools in the management of back pain and nerve-related pain. Used both as diagnostic tools and as treatments, they allow precise delivery of medication directly to the source of pain — providing relief that oral medications often cannot achieve. Dr. Ghazwan Hasan offers the full range of image-guided spine injections at his Baghdad clinic as part of a comprehensive approach to spine care.

Why Are Spine Injections Used?

Spine injections serve two distinct purposes. As a diagnostic tool, an injection of local anaesthetic to a specific nerve or joint can confirm the exact source of pain — if pain disappears after the injection, that structure is confirmed as the pain generator. As a therapeutic treatment, injections of corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medication) reduce inflammation around compressed nerves, providing weeks to months of pain relief and allowing patients to engage in physiotherapy more effectively.

Types of Spine Injections

Epidural steroid injections deliver corticosteroid medication into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. This is the most commonly used injection for sciatica, disc herniation, and spinal stenosis. Selective nerve root blocks (transforaminal injections) target a specific nerve root where it exits the spinal canal, providing both diagnostic precision and therapeutic effect. Facet joint injections treat pain originating from the small joints on the back of the spine, which are a common cause of localised back pain without leg symptoms. Medial branch blocks target the small nerves supplying the facet joints and can be followed by radiofrequency ablation for longer-lasting relief. Sacroiliac joint injections treat pain from the joint connecting the spine to the pelvis.

Why Image Guidance Matters

All spine injections at Dr. Hasan's clinic are performed under image guidance — using fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray) or ultrasound. This ensures the needle reaches the precise target with millimetre accuracy, maximising the therapeutic effect while minimising risk. Unguided injections have significantly lower accuracy rates and can result in medication being deposited in the wrong location, providing no benefit.

How Long Do Results Last?

The duration of pain relief varies by patient and condition. Many patients experience 4 to 12 weeks of significant relief from a single epidural injection, and some enjoy relief for 6 months or longer. Injections can be repeated up to 3 times per year if needed. When injections provide good but temporary relief, they can also help identify patients who are likely to benefit from surgical decompression, since the pain source has been confirmed and the patient has responded to treatment.

Book a Spine Injection Consultation in Baghdad

If you are suffering from back pain, sciatica, or nerve pain that has not responded to medication and physiotherapy, image-guided spine injections may provide the relief you need. Contact Dr. Ghazwan Hasan's clinic at the Ashur Building, Al-Kindi Street, Harthiya, Baghdad. Call +964 771 409 9298 to book your assessment.