Epidural Steroid Injections
Fast and Effective Back Pain Relief
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive technique that reduces the inflammation in spinal nerves. By reducing spinal nerve inflammation, you can find relief from neck, lower back and arm pain.
Steroid injections are a versatile therapy used to treat a variety of spinal problems. At Kayal Pain & Spine Center, epidural steroid injections are used to treat conditions including:● Herniated discs● Disc degeneration● Sciatica● Spinal stenosis● Spondylolysis
All of these conditions can result in inflamed or squeezed nerves, causing chronic pain that requires relief.
Steroid injections allow Kayal Pain & Spine Center surgeons to administer medicine as close to the nerve root as possible, reducing the inflammation that causes certain types of pain. As a safe, quick ,and painless procedure with minimal side effects, steroid injections make an excellent first line of defense against many spinal conditions.
Pre-Op & Aftercare
What to expect before, during and after epidural steroid injections
Epidural steroid injections are a simple outpatient procedure, and you are awake throughout the treatment. A local anesthetic prevents any pain during the treatment, and a low dose sedative also may be prescribed.
Steroid injections can be delivered in one of two ways:
1. Transforaminal — The first approach is performed by directing a needle to the epidural space and nerve root from the side of the vertebra. During transforaminal injections, each side is treated separately. Transforaminal is often the preferred method if you’ve had surgery before or if you have scarring, metal supports or bone grafts.
2. Interlaminar — During the second steroid injection procedure, the needle is placed between two vertebrae and into the epidural space that covers the spinal cord. By injecting the steroids straight into the epidural space, the interlaminar approach allows both sides of the spine to be treated at once.
Some patients feel pressure or discomfort when the medication is injected, but you should not feel any pain. The steroids include a local anesthetic to help prevent any pain, although some patients have mild soreness at the injection site after the surgery.
After the procedure is over, you will spend a short period in the recovery area and then be allowed to return home. You may receive one or two additional steroid injections over the next several weeks, depending on your initial outcome.
Benefits
Discover the advantages
Epidural steroid injections are a quick and effective way of alleviating some neck, back or arm pain, Injections are more effective than traditional oral medications because they reach the source of pain directly. Epidural steroid injections can have long-term benefits in some patients, eliminating pain for weeks or even years after the procedure.
ESI can provide enough pain relief to allow you to participate in necessary physical therapy. As a result, you can strengthen your back, which helps prevent or even eliminate future pain.
The recovery after epidural steroid injections is simple. Patients who receive epidural steroid injections are typically able to return to their usual activities the next day. This convenience makes ESI a beneficial therapy for individuals who need to work or take care of other responsibilities.