Epidural injection treatment is a standard pain management option used to offer relief for a wide range of conditions that cause pain within the neck and back resulting from spinal disc conditions corresponding to herniated discs and degenerative disc disease. These conditions may cause a pinching of the spinal nerves, which causes them to fireside off pain signals to the brain.
Epidural injections, while highly effective, aren’t right for everybody, and a health care provider should determine if it is acceptable for a selected patient. If you would like to know more about epidural injections, proceed reading.
What AreEpidural Injections?
An epidural injection is a procedure by which a corticosteroid medication and anesthetic are injected into the epidural space, which is the world surrounding the spinal cord and nerves. The anesthetic contained in an epidural injection provides immediate relief, while the steroid provides lasting relief from pain. Corticosteroids are the synthetic version of cortisone, which the body naturally produces to lower swelling and inflammation within the body. All in all, with the swelling, brought down, pain relief could be achieved.
AdministeringEpidural Injections
The procedure is often performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes not more than an hour. The patient is asked to lie on their stomach, but when this causes pain, the doctor may ask the patient to lie on their side. The injection area is often somewhere on the back. The skin on the injection site is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and a small needle is used to inject the medication directly into the epidural space.
Possible Complications
There are some known risks and negative effects related to epidural injections, corresponding to bleeding, infection, nerve damage, and a dural puncture, all of which could be prevented in case you select a good provider to manage the treatment. It is extremely rare for these complications to occur, and the treatment provides long-term pain relief for many patients, so it’s well worth the minor risk usually.
Long-Term Pain Relief
The duration of pain relief from epidural injections can vary depending on the person’s overall health and the severity of their condition. Patients can experience relief anywhere from three to 12 months or longer. Repeat treatments could also be advisable for certain patients.
Post-Injection Instructions
Patients are frequently advised to avoid strenuous activities for a number of days after an epidural injection. You could wish to rest for a number of hours after an epidural injection and take the remaining of the time without work from work. Over-the-counter medications could also be prescribed to administer any pain or discomfort afterward.
Epidural Injections for Pain in Delaware
At Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers, we’ve got a pain management anesthesiologist and interventional physiatrist on our team, each of whom are highly trained and qualified to offer epidural injections safely and effectively. We use epidural injections to treat patients with degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, facet joint syndrome, sciatica, neuropathy, radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis.
To schedule a consultation with our pain management specialists, call our location nearest you or use our convenient online request form.
