Introduction
Have you ever experienced back pain? Whether it’s temporary or chronic, back pain can disturb your physical movement, comfort, and also your mood. There are many solutions when it comes to temporary back pain or discomfort. However, have you ever thought about how chronic back pain can be managed? Epidural steroid injection can be one of the most effective solutions to this problem. At INPC, we have epidural steroid injection doctors who can help you understand your back pain situation and if the injection is required.
Back pain can often cause inflammation, restricted mobility, extreme pain, and discomfort. For these 100 problems, we have one solution, that is, epidural injections. It helps in reducing swelling which eventually reduces pain and discomfort. Since this is a minimally invasive treatment, one does not have to go through a hectic and painful procedure. In this blog, we will discuss all epidural steroid injections and their effects, how they work, who needs them, and how spinal injection specialists can help you out!
What are epidural steroid injections?
Epidural steroid injections are pain-relief injections. It is recommended for people who are suffering from chronic lower back, neck, or sciatica pain. When physical therapy and medications are no longer able to provide pain relief, steroid injections can be recommended by an interlaminar epidural specialist.
Epidural injections are a minimally invasive method for pain relief. The injection is given around the spinal nerve area known as the epidural space. Before providing the treatment, the patient is usually given local anesthesia or sedation. The aim is to target inflammation that is causing excessive back pain. Epidural injections can be effective in providing relief from the back pain. You may book an appointment with us to let our specialists diagnose your condition for the right treatment.
Who needs epidural steroid injections?
One common question that may pop up in your mind is who requires epidural steroid injections? If you or someone around you is experiencing chronic pain in their lower back, neck, or legs, can they benefit from epidural injections? Well, these questions are obvious. Let’s answer these questions.
There are various conditions that may trigger unbearable back pain. It can be due to sciatica, stenosis, degenerative discs, or herniated discs. All these can cause moderate to severe pain. The first line of treatment usually involves conservative solutions like medications, lifestyle changes, or physical therapy. However, not everyone may experience relief from conservative treatment. In such cases, the pain may spread to arms and legs which can cause shooting pain continuously that hinders day-to-day life activities. This is when pain management physicians for epidural injections may recommend this advanced solution.
It is essential to note that typically, steroid injections for epidural pain last for a few weeks to a few months. The patient may be required to repeat the procedure for prolonged relief!
Preparations for epidural steroid injections
The epidural injection procedure is complex and sensitive. So, only specialists perform these treatments. Before the treatment begins, your epidural steroid injection doctors may suggest some preparations and precautions that have to be taken. Make sure you do not skip any advice and instructions and do as the professional asks you to.
At Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, our doctors first perform an in-depth diagnosis of the patient’s health condition. Once it has been confirmed that the epidural injection is required, the patient is given the date and time for the treatment. Before the treatment is planned, the doctor may confirm if or not the patient is or expects to be pregnant. Patients also have to provide details of their ongoing medications including herbal medicines. Additionally, past medical history may also be asked.
Usually, the patient is asked to not drink or eat for a certain time period before the treatment begins. Your ongoing medications may also be altered as per the need. On the day of treatment, the patient is given local anesthesia or sedation to help calm the epidural space before the steroid is injected. After some time, the interlaminar epidural specialist will perform the treatment. To learn more about the treatment and its effects, you may contact us.
Post-treatment care: Tips
Once the epidural injection is provided to the patient, the doctor recommends taking rest for a few hours at the hospital. After the patient feels normal and can walk home, the doctor may discharge them. Make sure the patient is accompanied by someone who can drive them home since the patient may not be in the best condition to drive a vehicle or walk down the lane. Here are some of the post-treatment care tips:
- The patient may feel a slight discomfort at the injection point after the effects of anesthesia fade away. However, it may only last a few hours so you may rest and not panic
- It is best to avoid physically straining activities for a day or two after the treatment
- 1-2 days after the injection treatment, the patient may experience moderate to severe pain in the affected area. This is common. So, good rest is a must. After 1-2 days, healing begins and one may experience reduced pain gradually
- People who are diabetic may report high blood sugar levels. So, it is best to consult your doctor before the treatment to have control of the blood sugar level.
Epidural steroid injections are not a sustained pain relief solution in the majority of cases. Along with the steroid, the patient may require physical therapy, medications, and strict lifestyle changes to be able to sustain a healthy life and reduce back pain. Usually, a person may be given 2-3 epidural injections in a year and not more than that.
Conclusion
Epidural steroid injections are advanced pain management techniques that are equally sensitive. Experts at Indiana Neurology and Pain Center are well-trained and board-certified to perform these treatments. We ensure detailed diagnosis before recommending the best line of treatment. For chronic lower back, leg, or neck pain, epidural steroid injections can be a great solution. Although it is not a permanent solution but only stays for a few months, it can be highly effective in managing your lifestyle. With consistent efforts, lifestyle changes, and medications, it becomes possible and easier to manage chronic pain. If you are looking for the best solution for your musculoskeletal and neurological pain, INPC could be the right choice for you. Contact us today to book your appointment.
Indiana Neurology and Pain Center is located at two centers: Shadeland Ave Center and Shore Drive Center. You may walk in to book your appointment or call us at 317-480-1042 to secure your booking. We also provide telemedicine services to our patients who may not be able to walk into our clinic.
We wish you good health!