Finding effective ways to deal with chronic pain can be exhausting, but don’t just turn your back on back pain treatments. Instead, learn more about epidural steroid injections and how this nonsurgical procedure can aid pain relief.
Epidural Steroid Injections Explained
In the United States, approximately 65 million individuals find themselves affected by chronic back pain. Back pain is unique in that often, treatment designed to help symptoms, such as physical therapy, is too demanding for those with ongoing pain. If this is also the case for you and other forms of therapy have not proven effective, it may be time to explore other avenues. An example of treatment that can produce results for those dealing with chronic pain is epidural steroid injections or ESI. Treatment requires a potent anti-inflammatory medication be administered directly into the body. Helping to suppress pain signals due to spinal nerve inflammation.
Epidural steroid injections are a commonly used treatment for patients with chronic pain trouble, primarily in the back. It’s important to note that ESI is not to be used interchangeably with epidural anesthesia, used prior to childbirth. Where epidural anesthesia aims to provide a feeling of numbness, the steroid in ESI works to coat agitated nerves and minimize swelling.
When the Procedure is Needed
When does exploring epidural steroid injections enter the discussion? See, when pain travels from the lower spine to other areas of the body, such as the hips or legs. Other forms of pain intervention, such as medicine or physical therapy, may be unsuccessful. At this point, a healthcare professional may advise for an epidural steroid injection to be utilized. Typically, the pain is a result of pressure on the nerve often caused by a bulging disk. Yet, it can also be caused due to various conditions contributing to spinal inflammation, such as:
- Bone spurs
- Degenerative disk disease
- Herniated disk(s)
- Joint cysts
- Spinal arthritis
- Spondylolisthesis (“slipped” vertebrae)
The success rate of these epidural injections varies depending on the individual’s condition and the level of pain they’re experiencing. However, patients claim to feel pain relief within 1-3 days and often note an improvement in pain that lasts up to several months – making exploring epidural steroid injections worth it!
Pain management plans are well within your reach! At KPW Health, we offer individualized pain management plans because life shouldn’t be a pain the back. Contact us at 727-230-3423 or visit our website today to schedule your consultation today!
Resources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epidural-corticosteroid-injections
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007485.htm
http://www.doctorweston.com/pain-management/common-treatment-options/#epidural-steroid