An epidural steroid injection relieves the pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. The injection contains steroids and a local anesthetic.

Your provider injects the medications into the epidural space, the area that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. When the medications enter the epidural space, they flow freely around several nerve roots, reaching several segments of the spine.

The anesthetic quickly but temporarily relieves your pain. The steroids take a little longer to reduce the inflammation. Once the steroids take effect, most people find that they get longer-lasting relief. If your first injection is effective, you can get a series of injections.

The team at Pain Care Boise recommends epidural steroid injections for patients who have neck, back, leg, or arm pain caused by nerve inflammation. The inflammation is often brought on by spine conditions like:

• Disc herniation
• Facet joint arthritis
• Bulging discs
• Sciatica
• Spinal stenosis
• Radiculopathy
• Degenerative disc disease

In some cases, a neck or back injury causes nerve inflammation that can be effectively treated with an epidural steroid injection.

Your provider uses fluoroscopy, a type of X-ray that provides images in real time, to guide the epidural steroid injection. Fluoroscopic imaging allows your provider to see your spine and precisely insert the needle.

After you receive a topical anesthetic, your Pain Care Boise provider guides a needle into the epidural space. They first inject a dye and watch as it flows through the epidural space.

The path of the dye verifies that the medication will reach the inflamed nerves. Your provider then injects the medication and removes the needle.

You should start to feel some pain relief in a few days, but it takes 7-10 days for the steroids to take full effect.

To learn more about the benefits of epidural steroid injections, book an appointment online today or call Pain Care Boise.