Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain
Posted by Danny Goldberg on Mon, May 02, 2011 @ 09:34 AM
Epidural Steroid Injections, whether they be lumbar or cervical, are used as a non-surgical treatments to relieve severe pain. This pain can often be caused by stenosis, bulging or herniated discs, slipped discs or protruding discs and pinched nerves. Injections are generally used when more conservative treatments, such as chiropractors or physical therapy have not succeeded in relieving pain. Some patients will receive up to 3 injections over the course of their visits to the doctor; however, many patients feel the relieving effects after only one visit.
The process is quite simple and the patient is awake and alert for the entire process. Only the injection site is anesthetized so there is no need for unnecessary anesthesia or drugs. The patient lies comfortable while the doctor injects a contrast solution to verify the correct placement of the injection. Then the injection is administered and the medication coats the painful nerves to provide relief. No more than a band-aid is needed to cover the injection site and the patient is free to go immediately after their appointment.
The injection is a mix of corticosteroid and local anesthetic pain medications. These are combined to create an epidural steroid injection and reduce swelling and inflammation which is the common cause of spine and back related pain. The anesthetic provides immediate relief and the corticosteroid takes a few days to realize the full effect of the medicine. Sites such as WebMd provide pharmaceutical information about the drug and its low rate of side effects.
If a patient has health insurance it is routine that relief from the injection is confirmed so that the patient may continue this course of treatment. Most insurance companies have information available through the patients pharmaceutical plan coverage.
If you are interested in learning more about Epidural Steroid Injections or would like to make an appointment, please contact us or call (855)-NJ-SPINE.