Epidural steroid injections are one of the most commonly performed procedures in interventional pain management. They provide relief for patients with spine related pain by reducing inflammation around compressed or irritated nerve roots.
Dr. Sperzel performs all epidural injections using fluoroscopic guidance, ensuring precise placement of medication at the specific level causing your symptoms. This accuracy improves outcomes and minimizes discomfort.
What are Epidural Steroid Injections?
An epidural steroid injection delivers corticosteroid medication into the epidural space, the area surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. The medication reduces inflammation and swelling around irritated nerves, which in turn reduces pain.
The injection also includes a local anesthetic that provides immediate but temporary relief. The steroid begins working over the following days as inflammation decreases. The combination allows Dr. Sperzel to confirm the correct treatment level while providing lasting benefit.
What Do Epidural Steroid Injections Treat?
Epidural injections are effective for conditions that cause nerve inflammation in the spine. Common indications include herniated discs, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease.
Patients typically experience pain that radiates from the neck into the arm or from the lower back into the leg. The injection targets the specific nerve root responsible for your symptoms, providing relief where oral medications cannot reach.
How Do Epidural Steroid Injections Work?
Corticosteroids are powerful anti inflammatory medications. When delivered directly to the site of nerve irritation, they reduce swelling of the nerve root and surrounding tissues. This decreases pressure on the nerve and interrupts the pain cycle.
The effects build over several days as inflammation subsides. Many patients experience significant improvement within one to two weeks. The duration of relief varies but often lasts weeks to months, and injections can be repeated if needed.
What to Expect During the Procedure
You will lie face down on a procedure table. After cleaning the skin, Dr. Sperzel will numb the area with local anesthetic. Using fluoroscopy for guidance, he will direct a thin needle to the epidural space at the appropriate spinal level.
Contrast dye confirms correct needle placement before the medication is injected. The entire procedure typically takes 15 to 20 minutes. Most patients experience only mild pressure or brief discomfort during the injection.
Recovery Timeline
You will rest briefly in our clinic after the procedure before being discharged. Plan to have someone drive you home. You may experience temporary numbness or mild weakness in the affected arm or leg, which resolves within a few hours.
Take it easy for the remainder of the day. Most patients return to normal activities the following day. Some experience mild soreness at the injection site for a day or two. Improvement in your symptoms typically begins within a few days to one week.
