lumbar injection

Epidural Steroid Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:10:00 -0800

How an epidural steroid injection works

The most commonly performed injection is an epidural steroid injection. In this approach, a steroid is injected directly around the dura, the sac around the nerve roots that contains cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that the nerve roots are bathed in). Prior to the injection, the skin is anesthetized by using a small needle to numb the area in the low back (a local anesthetic).

Indications for Lumbar Epidural Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Several common conditions that cause severe acute or chronic low back pain and/or leg pain (sciatica) from nerve irritation can be treated by steroid injections. These conditions include:

A lumbar disc herniation, where the nucleus of the disc pushes through the outer ring (the annulus) and into the spinal canal where it pressures the spinal cord and nerves. Read Lumbar herniated disc for more information on diagnosis and treatments.
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Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Facet Joint Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Facet joints are small joints at each segment of the spine that provide stability and help guide motion. The facet joints can become painful due to arthritis of the spine, a back injury or mechanical stress to the back. A cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) or lumbar (lower back) facet joint injection involves injecting a steroid medication, which can anesthetize the facet joints and block the pain.

Epidural Results and Precautions

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

As with any medical procedure, there are certain drawbacks and potential risks associated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain, leg pain or arm pain. One of the most important issues to consider is that the procedure only tends to significantly lessen the patient’s pain about half of the time.

Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Epidural steroid injections

An epidural injection delivers steroids into the epidural space around spinal nerve roots to relieve pain - back pain, leg pain, or other pain—caused by irritated spinal nerves. The steroid used in the epidural steroid injection reduces the inflammation of those nerves, which is often the source of the pain.