Does a pain injection hurt?

The skin is numbed first, so most patients describe pressure rather than sharp pain. Some injections produce a brief ache as the medication enters the space. Most procedures take only a few minutes, and most patients report it was less uncomfortable than they expected.

Will I be sedated for the injection?

Most pain injections are performed with local anesthetic only and do not require sedation. Staying awake allows you to give feedback during the procedure, which improves accuracy. If sedation is appropriate for your situation, we will discuss it in advance.

Can I drive myself home after an injection?

For most spine and nerve procedures we ask you to arrange a driver, because local anesthetic can cause temporary numbness or weakness. For smaller injections such as trigger point injections, driving is often fine. We will tell you which applies before your appointment so you can plan.

Are pain injections covered by Medicare?

Many injection procedures are covered by Medicare and commercial insurance when medically indicated, though coverage and prior authorization requirements vary by plan and procedure. Call (805) 557-7050 and we will verify your coverage before scheduling.

Injections & Nerve Blocks for Pain — Thousand Oaks, CA

Q: How long does relief from an injection last?

It varies widely by injection type and by cause. Local anesthetic effects last hours. Steroid effects typically develop over several days and may last weeks to months. Some patients get lasting benefit; others get a temporary window that makes rehabilitation possible. We will give you a realistic expectation for your specific injection.

Q: How many injections can I have?

There is no single universal limit, but steroid injections are generally spaced out and limited over a year because repeated steroid exposure carries risks. More importantly, if two well-placed injections have not helped, repeating a third is usually not the answer — that result is information, and it should change the plan.

Q: Who performs the injection?

Both James Lin, MD and Beth Brown, PA-C perform injections at CPMC Care. Which provider you see depends on the procedure and scheduling, and patients generally see the same provider at each visit.

Before you consider one

Most patients who come to us don't need an injection.

We'd rather talk you out of one than into one.

Injections are the most visible thing a pain clinic does, and the most over-offered. For a large share of musculoskeletal pain, movement, time, and the right medication produce comparable results at twelve months with fewer risks and lower cost.

That is not modesty — it's the reason we can be trusted when we do recommend one. An injection earns its place when three things are true at the same time:

There's a specific target

Your history, exam, and imaging point to one structure — not a general region of discomfort

Conservative care wasn't enough

Time, movement, and medication have been genuinely tried — not just mentioned

It changes what happens next

Either it relieves your pain, or it tells us something that redirects the plan. Both are useful; neither is automatic

If you come in and none of those are true yet, we will say so — and we will tell you what we think should happen first instead.

What we offer

Injections, grouped by what they target.

A nerve block is a type of injection — the difference is the target, not the technique. All of these are placed using image guidance, so the medication reaches the intended structure rather than the general area.

Spine

Neck, mid-back, low back, and the joint linking spine to pelvis

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)

TargetsAn inflamed nerve root, usually from a disc or stenosis

Feels likePressure during placement; a few minutes total

DurationBuilds over days; weeks to months, variable

Facet Joint Injection

TargetsThe small paired joints at the back of the spine

Feels likeBrief local ache as the joint fills

DurationWeeks to months; sometimes diagnostic only

Medial Branch Block Diagnostic

TargetsThe tiny nerves carrying signal from facet joints

Feels likeQuick; relief often felt within the hour

PurposeConfirms the target before RFA — a few hours of relief is the answer we need

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injection

TargetsThe joint connecting the spine to the pelvis

Feels likePressure low in the back, off to one side

DurationWeeks to months; often clarifies a confusing pattern

Joint & Bursa

Knee, hip, shoulder, and the fluid-filled sacs that cushion them

Large Joint Injection

TargetsInside the knee, hip, or shoulder joint itself

Feels likeFullness in the joint for a day or so

DurationWeeks to months; works best paired with strengthening

Bursa Injection

TargetsAn inflamed bursa, commonly at the hip or shoulder

Feels likeBrief sting; one of the quicker procedures

DurationOften several weeks to months of relief

Nerve Blocks

Aimed at one specific nerve carrying the pain signal

Occipital Nerve Block

TargetsThe occipital nerves at the back of the head

Used forHeadaches starting at the base of the skull

DurationCan interrupt a persistent headache cycle

Genicular Nerve Block Diagnostic

TargetsThe small nerves supplying the knee joint

Used forKnee arthritis, including after knee replacement

PurposeTests whether knee RFA is likely to help

Peripheral Nerve Block

TargetsAn identified nerve that is compressed or irritated

Used forFocal nerve pain, entrapment, some post-surgical pain

DurationVaries; often both diagnostic and therapeutic

Sympathetic Nerve Block

TargetsCeliac, stellate, lumbar, hypogastric, ganglion impar — full details →

Used forCRPS and certain burning nerve pain patterns — see also Sympathetic & Visceral Blocks

DurationOften given as a short series when it helps

Muscle

For pain generated by muscle rather than joint or nerve

Trigger Point Injection

TargetsA taut, tender band of muscle that reproduces your pain

Feels likeA brief twitch, then release; among the fastest procedures

DurationMost useful as a window for rehabilitation to work

Don't see yours listed?

This page covers what we perform most often, not everything that exists. If you were told elsewhere that you need a specific injection, call and we can tell you whether it's something we do — and whether we think you need it.

Discography: We perform diagnostic discography, though infrequently — it is used selectively when other imaging has not clarified the pain source. If you have been referred for this, call us to discuss whether it applies to your situation.

Who performs it

You'll know who is doing your procedure before you arrive.

Two providers perform injections at CPMC Care. Both are experienced, and neither is a stand-in for the other.

Pain Medicine Specialist

James Lin, MD

Board-Certified in Pain Medicine
Image-guided spine procedures
Diagnostic blocks and radiofrequency ablation
MD, Rush University · MS Neuroscience, Northwestern

Physician Assistant · PA-C

Beth Brown, PA-C

15+ years in pain management and rehabilitation
Ultrasound-guided injections
Trigger point and joint injections
MS, Rosalind Franklin University

Which provider you see depends on the procedure and on scheduling — and in most cases you will see the same person at each visit. That continuity matters more than most patients expect: the provider who examined you knows what your pain looked like before, and can tell whether something has actually changed.

What actually happens

Most of the fear is about not knowing.

So here is the whole thing, start to finish. Details vary by procedure, and we will walk you through your specific one beforehand — but this is the shape of it.

1

The week before

We tell you what to pause and who should drive

If you take a blood thinner, we will give you specific instructions — do not stop anything on your own. If you have diabetes, we will talk about blood sugar, since steroids can raise it temporarily. For most spine and nerve procedures, you'll need someone to drive you home.

2

Arrival

Consent, questions, and no rushing

We confirm what we're doing and why, review the risks in plain language, and answer whatever you want to ask. If you change your mind at this point, that is entirely allowed — nothing proceeds until you're ready.

3

In the room · usually 5–15 minutes

Positioning, numbing, then the injection itself

You'll be positioned for access to the target. The skin is cleaned and numbed with a small injection of local anesthetic — this is the part most people feel. Using image guidance, the needle is then placed at the target and the medication delivered. Most patients describe pressure rather than sharp pain, and most are surprised how quickly it's over.

4

Immediately after

A short observation period

You'll rest briefly while we make sure you're comfortable and stable. The numbing medication may make the area feel heavy, warm, or oddly absent for a few hours — that is expected, and it is also information: what it numbs tells us something.

5

That evening

Some soreness is normal

As the local anesthetic wears off, the original pain often returns and the injection site may ache. Ice helps. Take it easy, but you do not need bed rest — gentle normal movement is better than lying still.

6

Next 2 to 7 days

Steroid effects build gradually

If a steroid was used, the benefit develops over several days rather than immediately. Judging the result on day one is the most common mistake patients make. We will tell you when to start paying attention.

7

Follow-up

We ask what changed — and act on the answer

Whether the injection helped a lot, a little, or not at all, each of those results means something different about what's driving your pain. A clear "no change" is not a failure; it rules out a target and redirects the plan.

Honest limits

What injections can't do.

You should hear this before the procedure, not after it.

They don't repair structure

An injection can calm inflammation and quiet a pain signal. It does not regrow cartilage, reverse arthritis, or undo a disc change.

Relief is often temporary

For many patients the value is the window it opens — a period with less pain, in which movement and rehabilitation can finally do their work.

Steroids can't be repeated indefinitely

Repeated steroid exposure carries real risks, so injections are spaced and limited. More is not safer, and it is usually not more effective.

A third attempt rarely rescues two failures

If two well-placed injections haven't helped, repeating is not the answer. That result is information — it should change the plan, not restart it.

They can't outrun a sensitized nervous system

When pain has persisted for years, the nervous system itself may be amplifying the signal. Injecting the original site won't reach that — a different approach is needed.

They don't work alone

The patients who do best pair the injection with movement, strengthening, and sleep — not with rest and waiting.

Before your appointment

Tell us these things — all of them matter.

Please let us know if you:

Some of these change the timing of a procedure, and some change whether it should happen at all. None of them are a reason to be embarrassed, and all of them are easier to handle before the day than during it.

Take a blood thinner or antiplatelet medication
Have diabetes or difficulty controlling blood sugar
Have an active infection or fever
Have had a reaction to contrast dye, steroids, or local anesthetic
Are pregnant or may be pregnant
Have a pacemaker or implanted device
Take medication for immune suppression
Have had a recent vaccination

Please don't stop any prescribed medication on your own before a procedure. Call us at (805) 557-7050 and we'll tell you exactly what to do.

Common questions

What patients ask about injections

Does it hurt?

The skin is numbed first, so most patients describe pressure rather than sharp pain. Some injections produce a brief ache as medication enters the space. The most common comment afterward is that it was less uncomfortable than expected — which is partly why we spend time explaining it beforehand.

Will I be asleep or sedated?

Most pain injections are done with local anesthetic only. Being awake is usually an advantage — you can tell us what you feel and where, which improves accuracy. If sedation is appropriate for your procedure or your anxiety level, we will discuss it in advance rather than decide on the day.

How long will the relief last?

It varies more than most patients are told. Local anesthetic works within minutes and wears off within hours. Steroid effects build over several days and may last weeks to months. Some patients get lasting benefit; others get a window that makes rehabilitation possible. We will give you a realistic range for your specific injection rather than a number that sounds good.

How many injections can I have?

Steroid injections are generally spaced out and limited over a year, because repeated steroid exposure carries real risks. But the more important limit is a clinical one: if two well-placed injections haven't helped, a third usually won't either. At that point the honest move is to reassess, not to repeat.

Can I drive myself home?

For most spine and nerve procedures, no — local anesthetic can cause temporary numbness or leg weakness. For smaller procedures such as trigger point injections, driving is often fine. We will tell you which applies to your appointment when we schedule it, so you can arrange a ride in advance.

Who will perform my injection?

Either James Lin, MD or Beth Brown, PA-C, depending on the procedure and scheduling. You will know who before you arrive, and in most cases you will see the same provider at each visit. If you have a preference, tell us when you call and we will do our best to accommodate it.

Is it covered by Medicare or insurance?

Many injection procedures are covered when medically indicated, though some require prior authorization and coverage varies by plan. Call (805) 557-7050 and we will verify your specific coverage before anything is scheduled — you should not be surprised by a bill.

What if the injection doesn't work?

Then we've learned something real. An injection placed accurately at a specific structure that produces no relief tells us that structure probably isn't the pain generator — which narrows the search. We will tell you what that result means and what we think should happen next, rather than offering you the same thing again.

Not sure whether an injection is right for you?

That's the correct starting position. Call and we'll evaluate what's driving your pain first — the recommendation follows from that, not the other way around.

(805) 557-7050

All injection procedures carry some degree of risk, including bleeding, infection, nerve irritation, and reactions to medication — and no procedure works for everyone. This page is general education, not medical advice for your situation. Before proceeding you are entitled to a clear explanation of the risks, the alternatives, and what happens if you choose to do nothing, and you are always welcome to seek a second opinion.

An injection is a question before it's an answer.