Epidural Steroid Injection

If you have chronic back or neck pain due to pinched, inflamed spinal nerves, an epidural steroid injection may give you the relief you need. Haddis T. Hagos, MD, DABA, DABA-PM, Brent Earls, MD, and the team at Pain Management Associates LLC in Greenbelt, Maryland, specialize in interventional procedures such as epidural steroid injections. If conventional medical care hasn’t helped your pain, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call the office or book online today.

What is an epidural steroid injection?

Epidural steroid injections contain a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic. The injection goes into the epidural space, an area that serves as a cushion between the spinal cord and vertebrae. 

This space also contains the spinal nerve roots, allowing an epidural injection to treat specific nerves. As the medication flows a short distance through the epidural space, it surrounds the inflamed nerves. 

The anesthetic gives you immediate but short-term pain relief. The steroids reduce inflammation, a process that takes a little time but produces longer-lasting results.

Eliminating nerve inflammation eases your pain. It also reduces swelling, which takes pressure off the compressed nerve.

When would I need an epidural steroid injection?

The team at Pain Management Associates LLC may recommend an epidural steroid injection when your lower back or neck pain is caused by inflamed spinal nerves. The inflammation occurs when the nerve is pinched by one of the following conditions:

• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Facet joint arthritis
• Bone spurs
• Thickened ligaments
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease

In addition to causing pain in your neck or back, a pinched nerve may also cause tingling that travels down an arm or leg.

What happens during an epidural steroid injection?

You lay down on a specialized fluoroscopy table that creates X-rays showing real-time movement. After you’re in position, your provider at Pain Management Associates LLC applies local anesthesia, then inserts a thin needle into the epidural space, placing it at the targeted nerves.

Your provider injects a dye and, using fluoroscopic imaging, watches how the dye spreads through the epidural space. After verifying the dye reaches the nerves, they inject the medication and remove the needle.

How long will my epidural steroid injection last?

Unfortunately, no one can predict the extent of your pain relief or how long it may last. Everyone metabolizes medication differently. As a result, you may get great results from one injection, need several injections for optimal results, or fail to get a significant amount of relief.

Many people find that their pain relief lasts about three months. However, your results may last days, weeks, months, or years.

To learn if an epidural steroid injection is a good option for you, call Pain Management Associates LLC or book an appointment online today.