SERVICES

EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) provide temporary relief from neck, leg or lower back pain and relieve symptoms of a pinched nerve as a result of disc herniation and spinal stenosis. When other non-surgical methods like physical therapy and medication fail to work, epidural steroid injections help do the trick. ESIs contain concentrated amounts of anaesthesia and corticosteroids. The epidural space, an area that rests between the spinal nerves and bone, receives medication. Pain disappears for days, sometimes even a year. The whole point of ESIs is to alleviate discomfort and allow patients to resume regular activities with ease.

Corticosteroid injections work on spinal nerves and flush out proteins responsible for inflammation. Patients who suffer from back pain due to sciatica, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis and stenosis are ideal candidates for epidural steroid injections.

Your orthopaedic surgeon uses images from fluoroscopy as a guide to direct the needle through the skin into the epidural space. The aim is to reach the affected nerve. There is slight discomfort, but patients experience pressure rather than pain.

Types of epidural steroid injections include:

Cervical (neck) epidural steroid injections: The side of the neck serves as the entry point for the injection. Medication is delivered to the neural foramen at the entrance of the nerve root just before the epidural space.

Lower back ESIs: The lower back is the entry point for the injection to deliver medication to the nerve canal.

Tailbone ESIs: The needle penetrates the sacral hiatus to deliver medication to the nerves at the tail end of the spine.

It does not take long to recover, and the procedure lasts for fifteen to forty-five minutes. Patients walk around immediately and return home on the same day after the treatment. Initially, patients will experience slight pain once the anaesthetic wears off, but as soon as the corticosteroids kick in, this discomfort should dissipate. Your surgeon at Protea Spine will consult with you at scheduled follow-up appointments to discuss future treatments.

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