Epidural Steroid Injection
A Comprehensive Guide by the Brain and Spine Neurosurgical Institute
Overview of an Epidural Steroid Injection
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on epidural steroid injection, a technique designed to provide relief from pain caused by inflammation and swelling of spinal nerves. This informative resource covers the essential aspects of the procedure, addressing common queries, and offering insights to help you make informed decisions about your treatment. Our aim is to empower you with knowledge, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the process and its potential benefits.
Epidural Steroid Injection Procedure
The procedure for epidural steroid injections is straightforward. Upon entering our office, there's no need to change clothes, undergo IVs, or experience sedation. To minimize discomfort, a local anesthetic (lidocaine) is injected into the skin. Using fluoroscopy (X-ray) guidance, corticosteroids are precisely administered into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. You'll find that the process is comfortable and relatively swift.
The Procedure in more Detail
During the procedure, you'll be comfortably positioned on the table. After sterilizing the area, we'll administer lidocaine to minimize any discomfort. An X-ray assists us in accurately placing the needle adjacent to the nerve. Thanks to lidocaine, any sensation you might feel is more likely pressure than pain.
Once the needle is precisely located near the nerve, the steroid is injected. You may experience a sensation radiating down your leg, which is perfectly normal and indicative of accurate placement near the nerve. Following the steroid injection, we introduce saline solution to disperse the steroid along the spinal cord, enhancing its impact on multiple nerves.
Most individuals can return to their regular activities, including work, on the same day if desired. Post-injection, there are minimal activity restrictions. It usually takes a few days to weeks for the medication's effects to become noticeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Will I Feel Better?
You will not feel better the day of the injection. The steroids don't help you for approximately five to seven days after the injection. Sometimes, on the first and second day after the injection, the nerve can be irritated and, in a few cases, you might have some increased pain.
How Many Injections Can I Have?
We allow for a total of three injections over six months. We don't do too much because of the effect of this steroid on the bones. If these aren't helping with your pain, then we should look for other solutions to help you.
What Are the Injections Fixing?
Injections honestly aren't fixing anything. Each epidural steroid injection is trying to calm the swelling of the nerves down. We're not removing a disc, shrinking a disc, or changing any of the anatomy of your spine. In some ways, these injections are a sort of band-aid; they are treating the pain (symptom) but not addressing the underlying problem). However, if we're able to bring down the swelling of the nerve, then these injections can be very effective and can potentially avoid surgery.
Do Injections Work?
The effectiveness of epidural steroid injections depends upon the problem in your spine. If you have very significant compression of a nerve, they may not be as helpful compared to patients who have less compression of a nerve.