This injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.
If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States — only headache is more common. Fortunately, most occurrences of low back pain go away within a few days. Others take much longer to resolve or lead to more serious conditions.
Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and/or range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Occasionally, pain felt in one part of the body may “radiate” from a disorder or injury elsewhere in the body. Some acute pain syndromes can become more serious if left untreated.
Epidural injections administer local anesthetic and/or steroids into the epidural space. Steroid medication is used to reduce swelling and inflammation. A salt water (saline) solution may be added to flush chemicals that cause inflammation. Short or long acting anesthetic medications are used to relieve pain. The various pain syndromes include lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, arthritis, cancer-related pain and neuropathy.
Do you have lower back pain that’s affecting your ability to live your life? Consider the benefits of a lumbar epidural steroid injection.
As a spine specialist in New York, the team at New York Spine Specialist can provide compassionate and professional care that helps you live a life with less pain. Keep reading to learn what a steroid injection can do for you and what to expect.
Your lumbar region consists of the lower five vertebrae in your spine. An epidural steroid injection inserts a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication directly into epidural space, which is the fatty tissue surrounding the spinal nerves. An epidural injection is an effective form of pain management for your lower back and can reduce the inflammation that causes chronic pain.
According to Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center, up to 80% of people experience lower back pain at some point in their life. Another study at the University of Washington showed Americans spend $100 billion a year on treating lower back conditions. Injections into your lumbar region can help you address pain and find relief.
Injections can treat:
How do you distinguish between minor lower back pain and a more serious condition that requires treatment by a steroid injection? If you notice the following symptoms, you should ask a professional about steroid injections:
If you’re considering getting a steroid injection in your lumbar region, you should know what to expect from the procedure and how to prepare for it.
Healthcare professionals who can perform the injection include radiologists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, and surgeons. The most common advice for preparing for the procedure includes:
The ESI should take between 15 and 30 minutes. Most people feel some significant discomfort during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel excessive pain. If you’re worried about how you’ll handle the injection, ask your provider for a mild sedative to help reduce the anxiety.
When you arrive for the appointment, you’ll most likely follow these steps:
After your lumbar epidural steroid injection, avoid driving for the rest of the day, and don’t soak in water. You can usually resume your normal activities the following day, but avoid strenuous work or exercise for three or four days.
You might also experience the following side effects:
If you need an L4-L5 lumbar epidural steroid injection, you want a healthcare provider you can trust. The team at New York Spine Specialist helps people deal with lumbar spine pain every day. With our help, you can manage your chronic pain and treat your lower back issues.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Contact us today to book an appointment.
Here are the answers to the most common questions about a lumbar ESI.
The injection should reduce your pain for around six months, according to Johns Hopkins. In rare cases, some people experience relief for up to a year.
There are a few downsides to a lumbar steroid injection, though you could experience minor to severe consequences. While rare, the most dangerous side effects include allergic reactions, significant bleeding, nerve damage, infection, and paralysis.
According to the Spine Institute of North America, the success rate of a lumbar ESI is around 80%.
After a lumbar epidural steroid injection, you shouldn’t drive or get the area excessively wet until the next day. You should avoid strenuous activity for up to four days.
Epidural injections are short outpatient procedures that can be done in our office or at a surgery center. You will wear a gown for the procedure. Before you receive the epidural injection, your lower back area will be sterilized, and numbed with an anesthetic. You may receive a relaxing medication before your procedure begins.
Your doctor will use a live X-ray image (fluoroscopy) to carefully insert and guide the needle to the epidural space. A contrast dye is used to confirm the needle placement. Next, the medication solution is delivered to the epidural space, and the needle is removed.
You will be monitored for several minutes before you can return home. Your doctor will instruct you on how to relieve temporary mild pain at the injection site. Most people can resume their regular activities the next day.
