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.
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- 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:
a. Coumadin, Plavix, or other anticoagulants should be discontinued
4 days prior to the procedure. Please contact your cardiologist
with any questions
regarding
these medications.
b. You may take regular strength Tylenol for any discomfort associated
with the injection. Continue to take your prescribed pain medications as
necessary.
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