Pain Relief with Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural Injections

There are a variety of different spinal injections that the doctors in Dallas, Plano and Mckiney pain clinic use to treat spine pain. The spine is the home of the nervous system and by injecting medications into this area, it can help to reduce pain throughout the body. All of our spinal injections are done using X-rays to guide our doctors into the exact location with no mistakes. It’s a good method to provide pain relief for disc herniation, spinal stenosis, arthritis, neuropathy, disc degeneration, shingles, nerve injuries, and trauma. Some of the most common spinal injections we perform include selective nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and facet joint injections.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Epidural steroid injections are a tool to help reduce neck and arm pain as well as lower back and leg pain. It is most commonly used to treat disorders like disc herniation, spinal stenosis, shingles pain, and spondylolysis. Since the epidural space runs along the length of the spine, the procedure can be performed in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions of the back. An epidural for back pain can also help to increase range of motion and mobility of the spine as well as create more muscular support while your back is recovering. Usually, these pain relief benefits will last for six to 12 weeks before they need to be repeated. 

Cervical Epidural Injections

Usually, cervical radiculitis is caused by bulging discs or cervical spondylosis. The nerve roots in the cervical spine become irritated due to compression, leading to neck pain, shoulder pain, and arm pain. With a cervical epidural steroid injection, a doctor can inject a mixture of steroids and anesthetics around these irritated nerve roots to help them calm down.   cervical epidural steroid injections have a lot of success in treating a variety of neck and shoulder pain conditions, providing fast relief that lets you get back to your daily life.  

Lumbar Epidural Injection

The actual pain medication that will be injected into your back is similar to a cortisone shot. It will work to bring down swelling in the area and reduce the amount of nerve irritation. Most people begin to experience a decrease in their lumbar pain three to five days after the first injection. Typically, this reduction in pain lasts for about one to three months before the injections must be repeated.

Selective/Transforaminal Epidural Injection

Selective or transforaminal epidural steroid injections work well for reducing different types of lower back aches, lower spine pain, and leg pain. Because it’s such a precise procedure, it’s also a great way to target only the nerves that are causing the problem. The doctor will verify they are hitting the correct nerves by first injecting lidocaine into the area to see if your pain subsides. If it does, they can then inject the steroid into the location for longer lasting pain relief.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows, causing back pain that worsens with activity. As the canal narrows, it puts pressure on the spinal cord, affecting the way you walk or use the restroom. While it can happen throughout the entirety of the spine, it most frequently occurs in the lumbar spine causing severe low back pain as well as sensations of pinched nerves in the legs. Usually, spinal stenosis occurs in people over the age of 60 due to deterioration of the spine, but it can occur in younger people born with a small spinal canal.

Spinal stenosis treatment can typically be conservative or surgical in nature. If the problem is caught early on before it has progressed too far, conservative treatment is usually effective. Our pain clinic doctors can prescribe you specific pain medications, perform epidural steroid injections to numb your pain, as well as physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the spine. Certain movements, like bending over, can help promote blood flow along the spine, giving precious nutrients to the spinal nerves.

If you are suffering with spinal stenosis please schedule an appointment at Integrative Pain: A Division of Progressive Health to alleviate pain, maximize function, and optimize health.  

Author

Neil Verma, MD Chief Medical Officer - *The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the author. Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Should you need medical advice, see your physician.