Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection in NYC

An epidural steroid injection is an effective non-surgical treatment intended to treat pain in a particular region of your body, from your neck to your tailbone. The epidural injection NYC relieves low-back pain shooting to your legs caused by irritated and inflamed pinched nerves. The procedure involves injecting a local anesthetic (numbing medicine) and steroid medication into the epidural space through which the inflamed nerves travel.

An epidural treatment reduces the irritation of the nerve canals exiting your spine. These nerves span throughout the epidural space and lead to your back and legs. A herniated disc or narrowing of the areas inside your spine may be responsible for nerve roots irritation. Steroids (corticosteroids) are anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat several disorders. The epidural injection reduces the inflammation of the nerve roots by injecting an anti-inflammatory drug straight into the epidural space.

There is no need to move to any distant location to perform the epidural steroid treatment. The procedure can be safely executed in the office of our X-ray-equipped room.

The irritated nerve endings that need treatment are located in the epidural space. To gain access to them, a thin needle made of flexible material will be injected slightly to the side of your back’s middle.

An epidural shot can treat many conditions that, due to nerve inflammation, cause low back pain or leg pain. The typical conditions that epidural injections address are herniation, lumbar stenosis, and facet joint arthritis. Lumbar disc herniation happens when the inner, jelly-like center of the disc pushes the spinal canal through the outer ring. This can pressure the spine and nerves, causing nerve root pain to spread down your legs.

A narrowing of the spinal canal in the low back area is lumbar spinal stenosis. It gives rise to pain in your back or can cause fatigue and tingling in your legs, particularly when standing upright or walking. Facet joint arthritis is when inflammation develops in your small joints between two spinal bones, causing back pain that can spread to your legs.

Here’s a step-by-step recreation of the whole procedure:

• An X-ray is being used to place the needle into the correct spot.
• You will adopt a slightly curled position on an X-ray table while lying on your stomach.
• Then follows the cleaning process and the process of applying a local anesthetic.
• When positioned correctly, the needle is then inserted into the epidural space. A real-time x-ray monitor aids the correct position of the needle.
• The dye is injected to guide the steroids to the exact place.
• Along with the anesthetic, the steroids are then gently injected. Immediately afterward, the needle is removed.

The time of the treatment is approximately 5-6 minutes.

We will monitor you for any problems for around 15 to 20 minutes before being discharged after the operation.

Injections of epidural steroids are commonly considered a safe and successful cure for back and leg pain, pain in the center of the back, or pain in the neck and arm. There are rare severe incidents, but these may include bleeding, inflammation, or damage to the nerves. We reduce these risks by using live fluoroscopy, laser guidance, and contrast dye to precisely position the needle in the epidural space.

In the injected area, some patients can feel soreness or slight discomfort. When the local anesthesia wears off while the steroids have not begun to take effect can lead to this sort of pain. By applying ice packs and taking a low dose of Tylenol, you can manage this soreness. Bleeding, infection, and headaches include unusual complications.

“Steroid flush” or temporary flushing of the face and chest, elevated blood sugar, sleep issues, menstrual issues in women, and water retention are possible side effects of steroids. Since we use a limited amount of potent steroids, these side effects are uncommon. Without any medication, the side effects resolve within 2-3 days.

Epidural injections do not cause weight gain. Long-term use of high-dose steroids has widespread adverse effects, including body weight, and may alter some body systems. We restrict the number of shots of epidural steroids a person may obtain in a year.

In most patients with back or leg pain, epidural steroids benefit. The effect of steroids injection can take as long as 2-10 days. You may experience slightly elevated discomfort at the injection site before the steroid medicine kicks in. On the day of the operation, you are advised to relax and take a break.

It’s best to rest and relax for the remainder of the day after your procedure. Apply an ice pack to the injection area if you feel any discomfort afterward. The next day, you may resume all the usual activities.

You can take a shower on the same day as an epidural injection. To omit any possible complications, don’t take a bath or a hot tub; postpone your visit to the sauna or pool for at least two days.

All insurances generally cover epidural steroid injections.

It is possible to administer an epidural steroid injection 3-4 times a year. We try to avoid repeating the injection by optimizing the first epidural to be as good as possible. If there is a need, we may perform the treatment the second time. All the details can be discussed during your follow-up appointment.