What Are B12 Injections and How Do They Work?
Do you struggle with chronic pain or athletic injuries? If you present recurrent pain to your medical team and are only offered cortisone shots, it might be time to look into alternatives. B12 injections at key trigger points can offer lasting pain relief for issues such as lower back pain.
Did you find us by searching for “B12 injections near me”? Our experienced doctors will have you feeling like yourself again when you visit us for B12 injections in NYC. It’s a safe and effective way to address your pain quickly.
Learn everything you need to know about B12 injections below, including how they work and their benefits over cortisone.
What Is Vitamin B12 and Why Consider It Over Cortisone?
Of all the vitamins our bodies need, vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is arguably one of the most important. This vitamin is responsible for the development of red blood cells and DNA. It also plays a critical role in brain function, metabolism, and nerve regeneration.
Vitamin B12 injections are generally safe and well tolerated, with fewer side effects than corticosteroids. The relative lack of side effects is particularly important for those with recurring or chronic pain, as it lowers the risks associated with multiple injections.
While cortisone is highly effective at quickly reducing inflammation and pain, it can cause issues with long-term use, such as tissue atrophy, weakened tendons, and blood sugar elevation.
The use of B12 also provides neuroprotective and nerve-regeneration benefits, allowing it to alleviate neuropathic pain and muscular dysfunction by promoting health and muscle recovery.
How Does B12 Work in Trigger Points?
B12 stabilizes nerve membranes to reduce their hypersensitivity, which addresses local discomfort and pain. These analgesic effects are similar to other pain management drugs, but with fewer long-term side effects.
The vitamin also supports metabolic activity within the muscle tissue, which may aid in injury recovery or chronic muscular dysfunction.
Research suggests that the combination of B12 with local anesthetics can be effective in treating myofascial pain syndrome while offering similar pain relief to corticosteroids.
Although more research is needed to solidify these findings, evidence published by the American Academy of Pain Medicine points to the efficacy of B12 as an adjunctive treatment alongside lidocaine for pain management.
Typical B12 Injection Protocol: What You Can Expect
If you are a candidate for B12 treatments, you will typically receive a combination of the vitamin mixed with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine. Depending on your injury, a trained professional will administer the injection weekly or bi-weekly until you experience significant pain relief.
The injection goes right to the site of your pain, targeting key trigger points or painful muscle knots.
What Are Some Vitamin B12 Injection Benefits?
By using B12 instead of just corticosteroids, patients benefit from reduced side effects without compromising effective pain relief. These injections are safer and less likely to cause tissue damage, making them a reliable choice for extended treatment plans.
B12 injections also support healing by fostering nerve and muscle regeneration, so they act as a restorative treatment as well as a form of pain relief.
Potential Limitations
B12 injections are limited in that they may not offer the same immediate anti-inflammatory effects as cortisone, meaning the onset of relief might take longer or feel less dramatic. This can deter patients from sticking with the B12 treatment plan, but it is important to stay consistent.
Understanding the slower onset can help you manage expectations and prepare for a different pain relief experience that offers a more sustainable path forward.
What’s the Verdict on Vitamin B12 for Pain Relief?
Vitamin B12 injections can be useful as an alternative or adjunctive therapy to corticosteroids and other pain management medications. Trigger point injections with the vitamin are particularly suitable for those who need frequent treatments and wish to avoid the side effects of long-term steroid use.
More clinical research should investigate the effectiveness across different patient conditions, but the existing evidence suggests the treatments are generally safe, well tolerated, and worth trying for those struggling with chronic pain or steroid side effects. Consider a B12 injection treatment plan for athletic injuries, chronic lower back pain, nerve pain, and other recurring discomforts.
Think You May Benefit from a B12 Injection? Contact Our Brooklyn Doctors Today
If you’re tired of living with chronic pain, know that you don’t have to live this way for another day. Help is available at Metro Healthcare Partners. When you visit us, we will determine whether your pain could be alleviated with a B12 injection, and if so, recommend a plan of action for treatment. To make an appointment for B12 injury treatment or joint injections for pain relief, call us at (718) 550-2056 today.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more about B12 injections? Find answers to some commonly asked questions here.
Does B12 Help With Inflammation?
While vitamin B12 injections do help with inflammation as well as nerve and muscle regeneration, patients should be aware that the results may not be as fast or dramatic as with corticosteroids. B12 injections are safer than corticosteroids, so the slower treatment may be worth it for those in pain.
What Are the Most Common B12 Injection Side Effects?
Vitamin B12 injections usually don’t cause side effects for most people. In rare cases, patients might experience nausea, itching, and headaches.
What Are the Long-Term Risks of Cortisone Injections?
Long-term use of cortisone injections can cause various side effects, including tissue atrophy, weakened tendons, and blood sugar elevation. Vitamin B12 injections may offer a safer alternative for patients concerned about side effects.
What Is the Best B12 Injection Frequency?
For injuries and chronic pain, you will need B12 injections weekly or bi-weekly until you achieve sustained and significant pain relief. When you visit us for B12 injections, we will determine the proper dosing schedule for you.
