Epidural steroid injections are used for lower back pain. Read on to find more on the benefits, risk and other aspects before you take an appointment with the doctor!

2. Epidural steroid
injections, simply
known as ESIs, are
used for the
treatment lower
back pain and for leg
pain at times. This is
one of the potential
treatments for low
back pain and
sciatica without
surgery.
Doctors may
administer epidural
steroid injection for
immediate pain relief
or as a part of an
elaborative treatment
program for
comprehensive care.
Here are some other
details.

3. In general, the pain-relief benefits of
epidural steroid injections last for a
week to a year, depending on the facts
of the case. Nevertheless, doctors
agree that epidural steroid injection is
a great way to offer sufficient pain
relief in case of sudden or acute pain.
Apart from the lumber region,
epidural steroid injections can be used
for easing pain in the mid spine, neck
and legs.
With epidural steroid injections, the
medication is administered directly to
the actual source of pain, which is why
the effect is considerable. In
comparison, painkillers or even oral
steroids have a dispersed action. It is
known that epidural steroid injections
can help in reducing local
inflammation considerably. In general,
the injection contains a local
anesthetic agent, saline and cortisone,
which is the steroid. Saline is mainly
used to dilute the anesthetic agent.

4. In general, epidural steroid injections are
used for conditions like lumbar disc
herniation, degenerative disc disease,
lumbar spinal stenosis, cysts, and annular
tear. In some cases, steroid injections can
be used for compression fractures. Your
pain doctor is the best person to take a
call on this.
Well, steroid injection has
been linked to infections,
although extreme infections
are rare. Secondly, it can
cause something known as
Osteomyelitis. It can also
lead to what is known as
Dural puncture, and in
some cases, there is a risk
of bleeding, especially for
patients who have other
bleeding problems. There
are also records of steroid
injections causing nerve
damage, although very, very
rare.

5. If you compare the potential side
effects of steroid injections with oral
steroids, the occurrences are rare.
Nevertheless, it is important to
understand the possible side effects,
which include increased pain in the
areas, headaches, flushing of the face,
insomnia or sleep issues, fever after
the injection, increase in anxiety,
increased blood sugar. There are also
reported cases of stomach ulcer and
cataract, as well.
Epidural steroid injections
have been in use for decades,
and your doctor should be able
to explain if this can work for
your lower back pain. Most
patients have experienced
immediate relief, and others
only had good things to say.
Check online to find a pain
clinic near you and take an
appointment, so as to
understand the possible
treatment plans using these
injections for quick relief.