Age-related spinal degeneration, arthritis, and chronic injury can cause chronic back pain. Not only these, poor lifestyles, such as lack of exercise, not getting enough sleep, poor posture for a long period of time, also play a key role in this regard. If the pain persists for more than 12 weeks or longer, treatments, like medications or physical therapy, might not work. In this situation, an epidural injection for back pain could be your answer.
An epidural steroid shot is given directly into the epidural area, which is basically an anti-inflammatory medication that provides relief from lower back pain.
Key Takeaways
- When you experience severe back pain that is not resolved through conservative care, you can consider taking an epidural steroid shot.
- Sharp sciatic nerve pain and difficulties while moving are the indicators that you might need a spinal epidural injection.
- An epidural shot contains anti-inflammatory medications that heal chronic back pain.
- An epidural shot usually has mild side effects, such as soreness and pain in the injection area, that are resolved within a few days.
- An epidural injection can eliminate the possibility of a surgical procedure to treat back pain.
When is “Wait And See” Not Enough?
Standard treatment might not work when the nature of the back pain is chronic. It does not occur only because of physical issues, but we also need to be aware of the psychological, social, and emotional issues as well.
When Do Spinal Injuries Cause Inflammation?
When a spinal disc ruptures, it irritates the nerve by releasing inflammatory chemicals. When the inner material of the disc touches the nerve, the result is sharp pain and swelling.
Rupturing the spinal disc is not a normal injury, but a structural damage, which causes pain even with small or simple movements, like walking.
Moving Beyond Physical Therapy And Oral Medication
If you are struggling with chronic back pain consistently for 3 to 6 months, physical therapy and oral medications might not be able to provide you with long-term relief.
You should consider an epidural injection for lower back pain relief if you have already tried these conservative ways of treatment and failed.
When you have sharp pain across your spinal cord, which also travels to the legs, arms, and buttocks, there might be different types of reasons behind it, such as narrowing of the spinal canal or spinal stenosis, and a degenerative disc condition. In these cases, spinal epidural injection could be a smart choice for you.
What Are The 5 Critical Signs You Need an Epidural Injection for Back Pain?
If you are not getting results from conservative treatments, you should consult your physician about taking an epidural injection for the back pain. Let’s dive deep to understand some of the critical signs when an epidural shot is a must.
1. Radiating Sciatic Nerve Pain
Experiencing radiating sciatic nerve pain invokes a sharp, electric-shock-like sensation in the lower back area that travels across the buttocks, thighs, knees, and feet. Sciatic nerve pain is usually caused by a herniated disc. When a disc herniates from its usual place, it is considered structural damage, inducing inflammation, pain, and numbness.
An epidural steroid shot is helpful for sciatic nerve pain relief because it is an anti-inflammatory medicine injected directly into the targeted area, which reduces swelling, inflammation, and pressure caused by a disrupted disc.
2. Persistent Numbness in Your Legs
Spinal stenosis, a pinched nerve, or a herniated disc can cause persistent numbness in your legs. This pain is commonly known to move through your spinal cord to the legs, making your legs numb, and you might face severe difficulties while moving.
This condition can be treated by taking epidural injections as per your physician’s advice.
Epidural injection contains medications that are known to treat inflammation, tingling pain and numbness.
3. Pain That Interferes with Daily Mobility and Sleep
Chronic back pain is usually associated with irritated nerves. The irritation is caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. This structural damage allows the inner fluid of the disc to come into contact with the nerve, causing sharp pain. Such pain can interrupt your necessary daily movements, like walking, coughing, and even sleeping.
In such cases, an anti-inflammatory epidural injection can provide you with great relief.
4. Herniated Disc And Spinal Stenosis
If the spinal canal narrows, it creates pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This situation is commonly known as spinal stenosis.
A herniated disc is a sort of structural damage that allows the inner fluids from the disc to come into contact with the nerve, causing a pinched nerve.
In both cases, the pain is sharp and feels like an electric shock.
An epidural shot consists of necessary medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, which could be the answer to this problem.
5. Targeted Lower Back Pain Relief is Required to Progress in Rehab
Chronic back pain can disrupt our daily lives and everyday movements. But, regaining the pace is necessary to live a natural life. So, targeted lower back pain relief is necessary to progress with your rehabilitation. In this case, an epidural injection can reduce the pain and offer you enough comfort so that you can move on with your daily life.
We have discussed when to consider taking an epidural injection for back pain. We also need to understand how exactly this medication works.
How Does an Epidural Steroid Shot Work?
An epidural injection is commonly used for pain management, which contains powerful anti-inflammatory medications and is injected directly into the affected nerve.
1. The Anatomy of the Epidural Space
The epidural space is where an epidural shot is injected to manage the pain. It is situated between the dura mater and the vertebral canal. It consists of fats, tissues, arterial branches, the spinal nerve roots, and lymphatics.
2. The Delivery Of Anti-Inflammatory Medication
There are two types of epidurals: anesthesia and injection. Epidural anesthesia blocks the pain signal by making the nerves temporarily inactive. On the other hand, an epidural injection reduces chronic pain and inflammation, and it is directly injected into the affected area.
3. What to Expect During the Procedure
When you are getting an epidural shot, you usually have to lie on your stomach. Then your provider gives you anesthesia to block the pain and injects the epidural shot into the epidural space.
You might feel tingling or discomfort while your provider pushes the injection, but it usually disappears once the procedure is finished
What Are The Benefits Of Epidural Steroid Shots?
Here’s what you can expect from epidural shots:
1. Immediate vs. Long-Term Pain Reduction
If you take an epidural steroid shot, at first, you might feel pain and numbness to some extent when the anesthesia wears off. Once the steroid medications start to work, the pain will reduce.
If you experience pain that is not normal, you might need more than one shot once every two or four weeks, depending on the condition of the pain.
The effects usually last for weeks, months, or years, depending on the nature of the pain you have.
2. How Often Can You Get Spinal Injections for Back Pain?
If you have severe back pain, you can get epidural injections three to four times per year as per the advice of your physician.
What Are The Side Effects Of An Epidural Shot?
Here are the side effects that you need to watch out for:
1. Temporary Side Effects
You might feel slight pain at the injection site that usually resolves within a few days. Besides these, trouble sleeping, temporary soreness, and a diabetic person might face a sudden rise in blood sugar.
All these side effects are temporary and quite common after taking an epidural shot.
2. Rare Risks And How Doctors Mitigate Them
Epidural shots are generally considered safe, but some rare risks include permanent nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, and bleeding from the injection site.
Doctors mitigate these side effects with proper post-procedure care protocols and careful patient screening to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient.
Who Should Avoid Epidural Shots?
An individual who has a systemic infection, severe blood sugar, and a bleeding disorder should avoid getting this treatment. Also consult the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive.
Is An Injection A Permanent Solution?
Epidural injections are not a permanent solution for your chronic back pain, but it offers long-term comfort and help to manage the sharp pain. It can often eliminate the need for a surgical procedure to cure chronic back pain. This treatment provides better results if combined with physical therapy to treat the root cause.
Take the First Step Toward a Pain-Free Life at Docteur Douleur
If you are consistently struggling with chronic back pain, our specialists at Docteur Douleur are ready to help you. Here, we offer advanced epidural injection shots according to your specific diagnosis of back pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does The Procedure Hurt?
The procedure is completed through local anesthesia, so you will only feel a bit of pressure and sensation during the injection process.
2. Can I Drive Home After Taking An Epidural Shot?
No, it is advised to have someone to drive you home, because local anesthesia can numb your lower back area, and you will face difficulties while moving.
3. What Kind Of Steroids Are Used in Epidural Shots?
Dexamethasone, betamethasone, and triamcinolone are used in an epidural injection.
4. What Kind Of Doctors Perform These Injections?
Usually, pain management physicians and interventional radiologists perform these types of injections.
