NASA Neuroscience And Spine Associates, P. L

The most commonly performed injection is an epidural steroid injection. In this approach, a steroid is injected directly around the dura, the sac around the nerve roots that contains cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that the nerve roots are bathed in). Prior to the injection, the skin is anesthetized by using a small needle to numb the area in the low back (a local anesthetic). spine

Injecting around the dura sac with steroid can markedly decrease inflammation associated with common conditions such as spinal stenosis disc herniation or degenerative disc disease.

It is thought that there is also a flushing effect from the injection that helps remove or “flush out” inflammatory proteins from around structures that may cause discomfort.

An epidural steroid injection is generally successful in relieving lower back discomfort for approximately 50% of patients.

While the effects of the injection tend to be temporary (one week to one year) an epidural can be very beneficial in providing relieve for patients during an episode of severe back discomfort and allows patients to progress in their rehabilitation.

There is no definitive research to dictate the frequency of the epidural steroid injections; however, a limit of three injections in six months is generally considered reasonable. There is also no general consensus in the medical community as to whether or not a series of three injections need always be performed. If one or two injections resolve the patient’s low back discomfort, some physicians prefer to save the one or two additional injections for any potential recurrent low back discomfort. Generally, there are few risks associated with epidural injections.