Having pain in your back and legs can cause huge problems. It can prevent you from sleeping, working, exercising, and spending time with your family. If the physical therapy didn’t help or pain meds and lifestyle changes didn’t work, what is the answer? Is there a more specific treatment? One treatment that seems to be gaining in popularity is the epidural injection – a minimally invasive procedure that can quickly and effectively provide long-lasting relief for certain types of back pain or leg pain.
In this blog, you will learn everything about epidural injection like, how it works, who it’s for, and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure.
What is an Epidural Injection?
A doctor gives epidural steroid injections for disc issues or inflammation of the spinal canal which is called stenosis that is pinching nerve roots. He/she does this to treat the source of leg pain or sciatica. Injections can ease pain without surgery.
Small blood vessels and fat fills this area. Damaged or inflamed nerves in this space often cause pain that travels into the back, buttocks and legs. When an epidural injection is done to target that location, it can relieve pain fairly fast and effectively, reduce inflammation, and relieve pressure on the nerves.
Conditions Treated with Epidural Injections
Epidural injections are used most often to treat pain from inflammation or injury to spinal nerves. Some of the key conditions that benefits include:
When a disc at your spine presses on a nerve root, it can cause leg pain (sciatica), either through a herniated disc or bulging disc.
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows. This can put pressure on the nerves and cause leg and back pain.
Degenerative disc disease is when spinal discs slowly wear down as one ages, causing nearby nerves to inflame.
Pain along a leg (sciatica) is another distortion of this category caused by the sciatic nerve.
When one vertebra slides out of place onto the one below, it’s known as spondylolisthesis.
After spine surgery, pain that continues on may also be relieved through epidural injections.
How Does the Epidural Injection Work?
The goal of epidural injections is to reduce inflammation and edema in the spinal nerves that are causing pain. The injection typically contains.
Corticosteroids: These medications can reduce inflammation since they are anti-inflammatory.
Local anesthetic: This makes the area numb for a short time for instant pain relief.
When injected into the epidural space to relieve pressure on the nerve roots, the drugs often relieve most pain after a few days. Some patients experience almost instant relief from their symptoms, while others will see a maximum benefit after 7-10 days.
The Procedure: What to Expect
You typically get epidural injections in clinics that relieve pain or hospitals and you do not have to stay away from home when you get this treatment. The whole process takes around 5 – 10 minutes after which you will be monitored for a while. Here’s what typically happens.
1. Preparation
Your doctor will request that you lie face down or on your side on a special table.
The surrounding skin area is first cleaned and then numbed with a local anesthetic.
A needle placement may be helped with the help of fluoroscopy (live X-ray) or ultrasound.
2. Injection
The doctor gently inserts a thin needle into the epidural space.
After proper positioning, steroid, and anesthetic medicine is slowly injected.
You may experience pressure when the needle punctures your skin.
3. Recovery
After the injection, you’ll be observed for 15–30 minutes.
Most folks head home the same day and can quickly return to light activities.
It is best to take the rest of the day off and return to normal activities as tolerated gradually.
How Soon Will You Feel Relief?
The response to an epidural injection can vary.
The patient will probably get quick relief from the anesthetic but this action will wear off in hours.
Usually, after 2-5 days the steroid starts to reduce inflammation to give long-term relief.
Many people may benefit from getting a series of 2–3 injections spaced over weeks.
The injection would not treat your disease, even though it would reduce the discomfort and inflammation. Do note this fact!
Advantages of Epidural Injections
Some of the key benefits include.
- Rapid pain relief that could improve quality of life and performance.
- Minimally invasive alternative to surgery.
- Performed on an outpatient basis.
- Helps patients engage in physical therapy more comfortably.
- Can delay or eliminate the need for surgery.
In many cases, epidural injections can serve as a bridge to reduce enough pain that physical rehabilitation and making lifestyle changes are possible.
Limitations and Considerations
Epidural injections can be very productive, but they are not a cure. Pain relief may be temporary and in some cases, the relief could be of little or no benefit. Long-term management of spinal conditions often requires several treatments, including.
Physical therapy.
Adjustments to Way of Living (weight loss, posture correction).
Non-opioid pain medications.
Surgical interventions (if conservative treatments fail).
Patients shouldn’t see epidural injections as one solution, but part of a greater whole for pain management.
Conclusion
If you have ongoing back and/or leg pain, you may be a candidate for an epidural injection to help you get relief and regain control over your life . Injections can help prevent or postpone surgery by calming inflamed nerves and alleviate pain and enhance functioning.
Just like other medicinal processes, it is essential to communicate your symptoms, health situation and the goal of your treatment with the health provider. When utilized correctly and in conjunction with a well-rounded treatment plan, epidural injections can be an effective intervention for spinal pain relief and improvement of quality of life.