Is a Steroid Injection Right for You?
Epidural steroid injections for back pain are a viable interventional option when you are looking for relief from severe, debilitating pain. Florida Surgery Consultants in Tampa are experts in lower back pain and we can help you determine if you would benefit from an epidural steroid injection. There may be certain factors that affect whether or not you can truly see a difference in your back pain after receiving the injections. Schedule an appointment with a doctor to speak about what your options may be.
Contact us at Florida Surgery Consultants to learn more about our services.
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 lower back.
Epidural Steroid Injections for Back 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 lower back 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 back pain and gives patients the opportunity to progress in their rehabilitation.
If you are interested in having epidural steroid injections for back pain, Florida Surgery Consultants is here for you. We understand how difficult back 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.
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Success Rate
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections (LESIs) are a commonly employed therapeutic modality in the management of radicular pain and other pain syndromes originating from the lumbar spine. The primary aim of the LESI is the delivery of corticosteroids into the epidural space to ameliorate inflammation and thus reduce pain.
1. Indications:
Common indications for LESI include lumbar radiculopathy secondary to disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and post-laminectomy syndrome, among others.
2. Mechanism of Action:
The therapeutic efficacy of LESI is attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, which can reduce nerve root inflammation and edema, thereby alleviating pain.
3. Success Rates:
The success rates of LESIs, as gauged by significant pain reduction and functional improvement, can be variable and are contingent upon the specific etiology of the pain:
- Lumbar Disc Herniation: In patients with acute radicular pain secondary to lumbar disc herniation, LESIs have demonstrated a 50% or greater pain reduction in approximately 50% to 80% of patients in the short term (up to 3 months). However, the long-term benefits beyond 1 year remain controversial and may be less pronounced.
- Spinal Stenosis: For lumbar spinal stenosis, LESIs may provide temporary relief in 50% to 60% of patients, with variable durations of benefit.
- Post-laminectomy Syndrome: LESIs have been shown to provide temporary relief in up to 50% of patients with post-laminectomy syndrome, although repeat injections may be necessary.
4. Variables Influencing Outcome:
Several factors can impact the efficacy of LESIs, including the duration of symptoms before injection, the specific technique employed (interlaminar, transforaminal, or caudal), and the type and volume of corticosteroid utilized.
