If you suffer from neck or back pain, an epidural steroid injection might be an excellent option for relief. This spinal treatment is among the services available from Rizwan Khan, MD, at Bluegrass Bone & Joint, LLC, in Louisville, Kentucky. Exploring treatments in greater detail begins today when you call or click to set up a personalized consultation online.
An epidural steroid injection is an injection of steroids and possibly other medications into the epidural space in your spine. The epidural space is an area filled with fat cells that protect the spinal cord.
Steroid medications work to reduce inflammation quickly. This takes the pressure off the nerves in the area, thereby reducing pain. Some epidural steroid injections only use steroid medication, while others incorporate anesthetic medications and/or saline.
Epidural steroid injections can be administered in the neck, mid-back, or lower back and buttocks. The treatment can ease pain stemming from a wide variety of sources.
Issues that can be treated using epidural steroid injections include:
During your visit, you learn if epidural steroid injections are the best treatment option for your needs. You can also explore the pros and cons of various other treatments, giving you all the details needed to make an informed decision about your care.
Epidural steroid injections are done on an outpatient basis, so you can return home after your appointment. You might be asked to change into a treatment gown to make it easier to access the injection site.
A local anesthetic injection eliminates sensation in the treatment area, so there’s no pain associated with epidural steroid injections. Once the medication is delivered into the treatment area, many people report a swift reduction in pain.
Your provider uses a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy to guide the placement of your epidural steroid injection. This process uses a contrast dye and real-time X-ray imaging to ensure the needle is inserted into the desired position.
While the thought of having an injection so near your spinal cord can be distressing, most people are pleased with their results. If you’ve been living with significant neck or back pain for some time, the relief available through an epidural steroid injection is welcome.
If you’d like more information about this treatment option or are ready to explore other treatments that can provide lasting pain relief, call Bluegrass Bone & Joint to set up a visit, or spend a few moments on the online scheduling page.