Epidural Injections in Oklahoma City

When spinal nerves are compressed, they can cause persistent pain in the neck, arms, back, and knees. Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI), a minimally invasive procedure, helps to treat inflammation of the spinal nerves and relieve pain. Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management offers epidural injections for pain recovery in OKC. Our skilled pain management team offers expert care for a wide range of spine conditions in Oklahoma City, as well as aftercare, to improve outcomes. Schedule an appointment with us today!

What is an Epidural Steroid Injection?

An Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive procedure that is a combination of a strong anti-inflammatory agent called a corticosteroid and an anesthetic. This injection is administered into the epidural space of the spine to relieve back pain caused by conditions like spinal stenosis, herniated disks, degenerative disks, sciatica, and more. During this outpatient procedure, our doctors will inject steroidal medications into the spinal canal to lower swelling and inflammation of nerve roots as they exit the spine and to decrease spontaneous nerve signals coming from irritated nerves.   This helps to induce short or long-term relief from pain and inflammation.

Types of Epidural Injections

In our treatment, we use three approaches to inject epidural injections in different locations of the body. These approaches include: 

Interlaminar Injection

An interlaminar injection is injected into the interlaminar window, which is a central opening between bones in the spine. For this procedure, our professionals inject a needle directly from the back of the spine between the laminae of two adjacent vertebrae, guided by a fluoroscope. The interlaminar approach targets the nerve roots as they exit the spinal canal. The injection is usually done between the two vertebrae that are most likely causing pain. It treats pain in the neck, back, and legs. 

Transforaminal Injection

This approach has grown in popularity recently. It involves inserting the medication through a smaller lateral opening known as the neural foramen. This approach allows the injection to target a specific nerve root that is causing pain. It helps to treat pain in the arms and legs.

Caudal Injection

This injection is also relatively easy to perform. The caudal method involves injecting drugs at the very bottom of the spine in the coccyx or tailbone area. We use this approach to treat the pain in the lower back and legs.

To decide on the appropriate approach for an epidural injection, we consider two factors:

• The location of your pain
• The underlying cause of your pain

Are you in need of relief from your long-term back and knee pain without any surgeries? Contact our professionals today! 

Epidural Shots Available as Treatment in Oklahoma City

At our clinic in OKC, we understand the debilitating impact of chronic pain. So, we provide epidural shots as treatment in OKC to facilitate pain management. We offer several types of epidural shots that deliver medication directly to the spinal nerves, providing significant pain relief to our patients. 

Epidural Shot for Back Pain 

If you are constantly struggling with persistent back pain that limits your daily activities, we offer epidural steroid injections for back pain in OKC. We use a combination of corticosteroids and anesthetics to reduce inflammation and numb the targeted nerve to alleviate the pain in your lower back, radiating to your legs or buttocks. 

Our epidural injection for back pain procedure in OKC looks something like this:

• You will lie on your stomach or side.
• Then, our professionals will clean the injection site and numb it with a local anesthetic.
• Using Fluoroscopy, we will inject a needle, corticosteroid, and anesthetic into the epidural space around the affected nerve roots in your lower back.

Cervical Epidural Shot

If you are suffering from constant neck pain, we offer cervical epidural injections that can target the nerve roots in your neck. These will ease the pain, inflammation, and headaches stemming from cervical spine issues. 

Lumbar Epidural Shot

Many conditions can irritate the spinal nerve roots in your lower back, causing lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica).  We inject an anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space around the spinal nerves in your lower back. An injection of this kind helps relieve chronic pain caused by pre-existing conditions or injuries that cause inflammation or irritation of the spinal nerve roots in the lower back (i.e., the lumbar region of the spine). 

Knee Epidural Steroid Injection

We also give epidural steroid injections for the knee to alleviate pain in the knee joint, which may be caused by pinched or inflamed nerves. Our certified medical professionals inject medication into the surrounding area to decrease the knee pain and swelling of the inflamed nerve. 

Epidural Shot for Sciatica

Sciatica denotes the pain that travels through the path of the sciatic nerve, which travels through the buttocks and down each leg. To help you relieve pain caused by a sciatic nerve injury or irritation, we offer an epidural shot for sciatica. This shot reduces inflammation in the area and desensitizes the nerve to pain. With less pain, you will be able to walk for longer and be more active, which also helps to improve blood flow and decompress the nerves.

Epidural Shot for Herniated Disk

A herniated disk is also referred to as a ruptured disk, slipped disk, or bulging disk. A tear or rupture in the annulus, the tough layer surrounding the disk, forces a portion of the disk nucleus out and into the spinal canal. Herniated disks can cause neck, back, and leg pain. To treat such pain, we offer epidural shots for bulging or herniated disks, which help to resolve pain by relieving inflamed spinal nerves.

Is an Epidural Injection Right for You?

Our doctors prescribe epidural injections to patients who have pain in the neck, arm, lower back, or legs (sciatica). We prescribe this injection for patients with the following conditions:

• Spinal Stenosis: This condition is caused by the contraction of the spinal and nerve root canals. It causes back and leg pain, especially when walking.
• Spondylolisthesis: This is a fracture between the upper and lower facets of a vertebra. In this condition, the vertebra slips, compressing the nerve roots and ultimately causing pain.
• Herniated Disk: When the gel-like material within the disk swells or bursts due to a weakness in the surrounding wall (annulus), the nucleus pushes out and presses on spinal nerves, causing irritation, pain, and swelling.
• Degenerative Disk: This is the disintegration or aging of the intervertebral disk, which results in disk space collapse, annulus rips, and bone spur formation.
• Sciatica: This condition occurs along the sciatic nerve in the buttocks and down the legs. It is generally caused by compression or irritation of the lumbar nerves. 

We do NOT perform injections on people who have infections or bleeding problems. Before any procedure, our doctors will check your symptoms and perform the necessary tests, such as checking your sugar levels.

What is the Procedure for getting an Epidural Shot?

Here’s the procedure for getting an epidural shot:

• Our trained nurse will take your vitals and check your medications. If necessary, we will also check your blood sugar and coagulation status.
• You will be asked to lie face down on a table in the procedure room.
• Before the injection, the nurse or doctor will clean the injection site and inject a local numbing agent so that you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
• Our certified doctor will insert a thin, hollow needle into the epidural space, guided by a fluoroscopic X-ray. This method will allow our doctor to place the needle in the correct position. The device Fluoroscopy displays real-time X-ray images of the needle’s position in the spine on a monitor for the surgeon to see.
• Then, a contrast substance is injected through the precisely placed hollow needle to ensure that the medication reaches the nerve.
• The doctor will then inject anesthetic drugs and corticosteroids into the spine through the same needle.
• Finally, the doctor will remove and cover the injection site with a dry, sterile bandage.

Benefits of Epidural Injections

Epidural steroid injections have helped many patients who are dealing with painful inflammatory conditions. They can also help to determine whether surgery might be beneficial for certain patients. Some of the benefits of epidural steroid injections include:

• Temporary or long-term pain relief.
• Better quality of life due to improved mobility.
• Clearer diagnostic information on the cause of chronic pain 
• Ability to reduce pain without undergoing more invasive procedures.
• Reduced pain, which allows patients to continue their physical therapy.

To learn more about the benefits in detail, contact us today! 

Complications, Risks, and Possible Side Effects of Epidural Injections

The potential side effects of epidural injections include:

• Severe headache due to spinal fluid leakage (rare) 
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Allergic reaction
• Nerve damage/paralysis (rare)

Additionally, the corticosteroid that we inject can cause side effects like: 

• Weight gain
• Water retention
• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Rise in blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes

Remember, numbness or mild muscle weakness usually resolves within 24 hours. Most side effects will resolve themselves within 1 to 4 days. 

In our clinic, we assess the risks first, especially for patients who are being treated for chronic conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis) or those who cannot temporarily discontinue anti-clotting medications.

We will always discuss the complications, risks, and possible side effects of epidural injections with our patients to help them make an informed decision. Our team of certified doctors is highly experienced and trained in performing an epidural injection procedure. 

Visit us today in OKC and let our doctors walk you through the process.

What are the Success Results of Epidural Steroid Injections?

For patients in our Oklahoma City clinics, epidural steroid Injections can have many benefits to pain reduction. For those who experience only mild pain relief, one to two more injections may be performed a few weeks apart to achieve the full desired effect. Duration of relief can vary from weeks to years based on many factors of an individual’s affliction.

How Long Do Epidural Shots Last?

Normally, the benefits of epidurals last for 1 to 3 months. Our doctors often recommend patients get an epidural injection 3 to 6 times per year. If you have a severe injury like a disk hernia, more frequent injections may be beneficial. This outpatient epidural steroid procedure takes around 5 to 15 minutes, followed by observation for about an hour. 

If you observe any persistent side effects, call us immediately or visit our clinic!

Why Choose Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management for Epidural Injections?

Our comprehensive approach to relieving pain via epidural injections makes us stand out in the industry. Here’s why you should choose us:

• Experienced and Qualified Specialists: Our team consists of experienced pain management specialists who are always educated on the latest techniques and treatment approaches.
• Personalized Care and Treatment Plans: We focus on understanding your unique pain condition and individual needs. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, we tailor treatment plans specifically for you!
• Minimally Invasive Procedures: We prioritize minimally invasive techniques to ensure your comfort and minimize recovery time. Our experienced physicians utilize Fluoroscopy for precise needle placement, reducing risks and maximizing effectiveness.
• Comprehensive Pain Management Solutions: Epidural injections are just one aspect of our comprehensive pain management approach. We provide various treatment options, including medication management, physical therapy, and interventional procedures, to address your pain holistically.
• Compassionate and Caring Staff: Our team understands the challenges of chronic pain. We provide compassionate and supportive care.
• Affordable Treatment: The financial burden of chronic pain treatment is very high. We recognize this issue, offer transparent pricing on our procedure, and work with your insurance to maximize coverage.

Contact Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management for Epidural Shots in OKC

Ready to find relief from chronic pain? Consider epidural shots as a potential treatment option! This is a non-surgical method that has a quick and minimally invasive procedure with 50% pain relief. Contact us today at (405) 703-4950 to schedule a consultation and learn more about how epidural shots can help you find relief from chronic pain. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)