Epidural Steroid Injection

Epidural steroid injections are common procedures used to treat chronic back pain, such as low back pain, neck pain, and spinal stenosis. This injection involves the use of a steroid and local anesthetic to reduce inflammation and interfere with the pain cycle and signal. The injection is made into the epidural space at the point of the irritated nerve and usually takes less than 15 minutes.

There are different types of epidural steroid injections that may be utilized. Intralaminar injections are injections in between the spinous processes, the middle, bulging part of the spine. Transforaminal injections are injections directed to the side of the vertebrae above the opening of the exiting nerve root. Caudal injections are epidural injections specifically used at the epidural space by the tailbone.

Some patients may feel relief after one injection. However other patients may require more injections, often done in sets of three, usually no less than a month apart.