Are Epidural Steroid Injections Right for me?
Cervical Steroid Injections is a popular interventional pain procedure that our Neurosurgeons perform in order to treat neck pain. If you have tried conservative therapy such as physical therapy or chiropractic care and it has failed this procedure might be able to help you get some pain relief. Most people that receive an Epidural Steroid Injection get pain relief that can last up to 9 months. This procedure will provide you with temporary relief for your neck pain but if your neck problems a due to bigger issues such as a herniated disc, an epidural steroid injection will not cure it.
What is an Epidural Steroid Injection?
An epidural steroid injection is a cortisone injection used to treat inflammation around the spine. Epidural injections have also been used for both pre-surgical planning and post-surgical treatment. In these situations, your doctor may recommend having specific levels of the steroid injected in particular places in the spine before the surgery begins in order to confirm the location of the problem.
Out of the possible injections, the most commonly administered is the epidural steroid injection. With the epidural injection, the steroid is injected directly around the dura which is a sac around the nerve roots that contains cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid that the nerve roots are bathed in. Before the injection, an anesthetic is applied to the skin using a small needle to numb the area in the neck.
Epidural Steroid Injections for Neck Pain
When the epidural steroid injections are placed around the dura sac, this can decrease inflammation associated with common conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or degenerative disc disease in a very marked way. The flushing effect from the injection is also thought to remove the inflammatory proteins from around the structures that may cause pain.
For about half of patients, epidural steroid injections are successful in relieving neck pain. The effects of the injection are temporary in nature—they only last from one week to one year, depending on the patient—but they can be very beneficial in providing relief for those patients who have episodes of severe neck pain and gives patients the opportunity to progress in their rehabilitation.
If you are interested in having epidural steroid injections for neck pain, Florida Surgery Consultants is here for you. We understand how difficult neck pain can be and we have the tools to make it easier for you. Simply schedule an appointment with us to speak to a doctor about your pain and see if you would be eligible for epidural steroid injections. Contact us today to learn more.
Epidural Steroid Injections Success Rate
Success rates for cervical epidural steroid injections can vary based on:
- The Specific Diagnosis: Patients with conditions like a cervical radiculopathy (nerve root compression) may experience different results than those with generalized cervical spinal stenosis.
- The Technique Used: There are different approaches for cervical ESIs, including interlaminar, transforaminal, and caudal. The technique chosen often depends on the patient’s specific anatomy and the exact location of the pain source.
- Definition of Success: “Success” can be defined in various ways: duration of pain relief, reduction in pain intensity, improved function, or delay or avoidance of surgery.
From the available literature up to my last update in 2021:
- Many studies have reported that a majority of patients (often more than 50%) experience some degree of pain relief after a cervical ESI. However, the duration and degree of relief can vary widely.
- Some patients experience relief for weeks, while others may benefit for several months.
- It’s also worth noting that not everyone will benefit from an ESI. Some patients might experience minimal or no relief from their symptoms.
Factors that can influence the outcome include the severity of the underlying pathology, the patient’s overall health, and whether the injection is combined with other treatments such as physical therapy.
