Epidural Steroid Injections for Sciatica and Low Back Pain

Epidural Steroid Injections For Back Pain
June 9, 2021

For many lower back and leg pain types, epidural steroid injections are a typical therapy choice. They’ve been around for a long time and are regarded an important part of nonsurgical lower back pain and sciatica treatment.

Because it includes injecting a local anesthetic and steroid medicine into the epidural area that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots, the injection is called an epidural steroid injection.

  • Control pain by decreasing soreness in and around the nerve roots using an epidural steroid injection
  • Improve lower back and leg mobility and function
  • Enable the patient to participate in complete physical therapy and achieve progress.

In most circumstances, an epidural shot for back pain may be advised as part of a patient’s treatment plan after multiple nonsurgical treatments, such as drugs and physical therapy, have been attempted and before surgery is contemplated.

The injection’s purpose is usually to offer enough pain relief for returning to normal activities and progress in physical therapy.

This article contains significant research and information on using epidural injections to treat lower back pain and sciatica.

Epidural Steroid Injections’ Potential Benefits

Steroid injections in the lumbar epidural space may provide the following advantages:

  • Nerve pain and swelling are reduced. Steroids lower the generation of inflammatory substances and the sensitivity of nerve fibers to pain, resulting in fewer pain signals being generated.
  • Keep oral medications to a minimum.
  • Continue or re-engage in physical therapy – Pain relief from epidural shots for back pain may help restrict or eliminate the need for oral drugs, some of which may have negative effects when taken long-term. This injection may relieve enough pain for a patient to continue with rehabilitative physical therapy.
  • No surgery – Pain alleviation by injections may delay surgery, and if physical therapy is successful, it may avoid the need for surgery altogether.

Injections’ Effectiveness

According to available studies, 70% to 90% of patients experience pain relief, lasting anywhere from a week to a year.

1.8 If the initial injection has a positive reaction, another shot may be required after the first injection’s benefits begin to fade. In most cases, up to three injections are given over the course of a year.

While many studies have shown that epidural steroid injections offer short-term advantages, the evidence for long-term effectiveness is unclear. Their usefulness in decreasing pain and boosting function is still up for debate. There is literature both in support of and against them.

Depending on the underlying disease, the patient’s demands, and the doctor’s preference and experience, several ways for administering an epidural injection may be employed at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management in OKC. Come to us if you wish to take an epidural shot for back pain. We are pain management specialists who offer comprehensive solutions for chronic pain management.

**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.

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