Epidural steroid injection may (ESI) can relieve lower back, leg, neck or arm-related pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. This procedure is effective in minimizing pain, numbness, and muscle weakness as a direct result of chronic inflammation of the spinal nerves in your spine. ESI may also relieve pain caused by spinal stenosis (narrowing of spaces in your spine), spondylolysis (spine degeneration) or disc herniation.
Patients at Trinity Pain Management may undergo this procedure with or without sedation. During the procedure, a local anesthetic will be used to numb your skin. The doctor will then insert a thin needle directly into the epidural space guided by the fluoroscopy machine (a type of x-ray). A dye may also be injected to ensure that the needle is at the right spot. A corticosteroid medication is injected to provide lasting pain relief.
After the procedure, you will be monitored for 30 minutes. You should track your pain as it helps to assess if the ESI is working. You should be able to return to work the next day, but it is always a good idea to check with your physician first. Muscle and/or nerve irritation may cause you to feel sore for one to four days after the procedure. Maximum pain relief normally comes in two to three weeks.
Epidural steroid injections have been performed as a very safe and effective treatment. Different patients, however, may experience varying degrees of relief. As a result, the ESI might have to be repeated a few times to observe the maximum effect.