Back pain or neck pain accompanied by radiating pain to the legs or arms is most often caused by inflammation at the nerve roots located in your spine. Epidural Steroid Injection is performed to place steroid (anti-inflammatory) medication directly at the source of inflammation and irritation to relieve the pain or radicular symptoms you are currently experiencing. Strengthening abdominal muscles, weight loss, and exercise or physical therapy may also be important to your pain management program.

“ What about steroid side effects?” The purpose of this injection is to avoid those side effects. A small amount of steroid medication is placed at the exact spot it is needed – as opposed to giving a large dose orally and hoping it gets to your back. Common side effects include tenderness at the injection site, increased water retention, leg cramps, increased appetite, and an increase in blood glucose levels. If you are diabetic, you should monitor these levels closely.

This is an outpatient procedure, which takes approximately 10 minutes. The injection is usually performed in the sitting position. The back is cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Next, the skin is “numbed” with an injection of local anesthetic. A needle is advanced into the epidural space. Placement is confirmed by loss of resistance technique, and the steroid solution is injected. A small bandage is placed which you should remove within 24 hours.

A maximum of three injections spaced one to two weeks apart have typically proven to be effective in providing long lasting pain relief.

• You may drive yourself to and from the office procedure.
• It is not necessary to fast prior to this procedure.
• Please bring your insurance card and/or worker’s compensation information and copies of any diagnostic reports (x-rays / MRI) with you to your first appointment.
• You should plan to go home and lie down for approximately 2 hours following the injection. After this time you may resume your normal activities.
• Medications:
  • Coumadin, Plavix, or other anticoagulants should be discontinued 4 days prior to the procedure. Please contact your cardiologist with any questions regarding these medications.
  • You may take regular strength Tylenol for any discomfort associated with the injection. Continue to take your prescribed pain medications as necessary.