What are Epidural Injections?
Epidural injections are pain-relieving injections placed in the epidural space in your spine. These injections may contain an anesthetic, steroid, or other anti-inflammatory medication.
The injections help reduce pain and swelling around your nerve root and any damaged nerves in your spine.
What Conditions Benefit from Epidural Injections?
When you visit NJ Spine and Wellness for pain management, your specialist conducts a thorough evaluation to determine the best treatment.
They may recommend epidural injections if you suffer from a chronic pain condition, and conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, no longer provide adequate pain relief.
Some of the pain conditions that benefit from the injection include:
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs
- Continued back or leg pain after spinal surgery
- Accident or injury that damages your vertebrae or spinal nerves
Your pain management expert at NJ Spine and Wellness may also recommend epidural injections if your pain is preventing you from participating in physical therapy.
What Happens During Epidural Injections?
Your pain management specialist at NJ Spine and Wellness discusses the specifics of your epidural injections at your consultation, so you know what to expect.
During your injection, your pain management physician has you lie on your stomach on an exam table and determines the location of your injection and cleans and sterilizes the area.
Your provider administers a local anesthetic to numb the location and then uses X-ray guided imaging to guide the epidural needle to the right position in your spine. They inject a contrast dye so they can target the nerves causing your pain and slowly administer the medication.
After your injection, the team at NJ Spine and Wellness moves you to a bed or chair to rest before going home. The pain management experts at NJ Spine and Wellness request you have someone drive you home after the injection.
When Can I Expect Pain Relief from My Epidural Injections?
You can expect to experience pain relief from your epidural injection within 48 hours after the procedure. The effects of your therapeutic injection may last a few days, weeks, or months.
Depending on the cause of your pain, the team at NJ Spine and Wellness may recommend a series of epidural injections to gain the most benefits.
To schedule your epidural injection consultation, call NJ Spine and Wellness or book an appointment online today.
