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All About Epidural Injections for Pain Relief
Over one in five adults in the United States lives with chronic pain, or pain that’s lasted or continued to flare up for at least three months. Beyond the pain itself, chronic pain can wreak havoc on your moods, ability to exercise, work productivity, and sleep.
If pain has become a mainstay or significant interference in your own life, you may want to consider epidural injections.
Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill provide state-of-the-art and minimally invasive treatments for pain, including spine injections.
Take a few moments to learn more about epidural injections, including how they invite lasting pain relief.
How epidural injections work
Epidural injections place potent, anti-inflammatory medication directly into the space outside of the fluid in your spinal cord. Since the medicine doesn’t need to go through your digestive system or bloodstream first, it brings rapid results.
Epidural injections are also known as epidural steroid injections, since they typically contain a steroid or corticosteroid. They also contain a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, for instant numbness. The steroid portion of your treatment gradually lowers inflammation, starting within 2-7 days.
Pain relief from epidural injections may last for days or as long as several months. While some people benefit from a series of injections spread out over time, others need only one.
What epidural injections treat
Epidural injections can treat a range of painful conditions that affect your spine.
Your provider may recommend this spinal treatment if you’re dealing with:
- Chronic back pain
- Cervical or lumbar radiculopathy
- Disc herniation
- Sciatica
- Spine injury
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs
- Joint cysts
- Thickening ligaments linked with spinal arthritis
Epidural injections minimize arm, back, and leg pain caused by inflamed nerves in your spine.
When to choose epidural injections
Epidural injections may be your best bet if your pain is severe, long lasting, or hasn’t responded well to other treatments, such as rest and physical therapy (PT). Epidural injections may provide diagnostic information, too, which can help if one or more causes of your pain remain unknown.
We may recommend epidural injections as a way to potentially avoid more invasive treatment, such as spine surgery. They may also help reduce the need for other options, like oral medication, or make PT more feasible and effective.
While epidural injections are considered generally safe, with only rare complications, our team will discuss potential risks with you to help you make your best decision.
To learn more about epidural injections for pain relief or get started with personalized care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.