Epidural Steroid Injections for Lower Back Pain Relief

While it may not be the most serious medical condition, there are few things more debilitating than lower back pain. Whether the back pain is caused by a simple injury or degenerative disc disease, it can make it nearly impossible to complete your daily tasks. Something as easy as getting out of bed can instantly become a chore. Since back surgery can be extremely risky, lower back pain suffers are forced to find an alternative treatment. One of the best ways to eliminate your back pain and get back to your normal life is with epidural steroid injections.

Epidural steroid injections are designed to eliminate your lower back pain by delivering powerful medication near the spinal cord and nerve roots in your back. The injection contains a local anesthetic and a very powerful anti-inflammatory medication called a corticosteroid. The local anesthetic is designed to provide instant pain relief. The cortisone will help relieve the pressure and swelling placed on the soft tissues in your spine. Epidural steroid injections provide the most relief when your lower back pain is caused by excess pressure on the spinal nerve roots.

During the actual treatment, a local anesthetic will be applied to your lower back to keep you comfortable. The steroid solution will then be skillfully injected into the body in the right location. The entire procedure should take only minutes to complete.

You will likely experience nothing more than some pressure when the steroid solution is injected. Most patients do not find this pressure to be highly uncomfortable. Afterward, you will soon be able to go home.

It is recommended that you rest as much as possible on the day of your treatment. You should be able to return to your normal activities relatively quickly, however. Epidural steroid injections are designed to relieve lower back pain for weeks or months, depending on the situation. Your pain may gradually return after this time, so you can safely receive treatment multiple times a year.