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Learn more about injections for low back pain

Coping with low back pain can be difficult for some patients. Sometimes pain is difficult to control, and pain relievers may not be the right solution. Depending on the facts of the case, doctors may use epidural steroid injections. In this post, we will discuss some of the aspects of such injections in detail.

What is an epidural steroid injection?

The use of injections for low back pain is limited to certain cases, but this is certainly one of the many ways to treat chronic pain. An epidural steroid injection essentially contains an anesthetic drug for pain relief with a corticosteroid. For the uninitiated, corticosteroid is a form of steroid that is known to have anti-inflammatory benefits. The injection helps reduce pressure on the nerves and surrounding areas and muscles, which can provide considerable respite, while the pain reliever ensures immediate relief. Corticosteroids can work independently to relieve pain, but since most patients want immediate effects, anesthetic medications are used.

Knowing the procedure

Note that you cannot ask your doctor for epidural steroid injections. Unless the patient has stopped responding to nonsurgical treatments, ESIs are not tested by doctors. In most cases, certain imaging tests are done to find the right place where the nerve roots are pressing or have a problem. In some cases, the doctor may use an x-ray machine just to find the correct point where the needle should be placed.

The need for epidural steroid injections.

Epidural steroid injections are generally used as a last resort to offer pain relief, especially in cases of extreme pain, often related to a condition known as “lumbar spinal stenosis.” This condition primarily begins in the lower spine and often spreads to the legs. There is limited information on how these injections can work in the long term, but like most steroid injections, this also offers relief for the next several weeks. It is always best to talk to your doctor, who can suggest more details about it. However, in cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, other treatments are also tried and used.

What are the side effects?

There can be some side effects with ESIs, but that varies from case to case. In most cases, the focus is on reducing pain, so minimal adverse effects are ignored. However, if you have trouble breathing or swelling in the facial area, contact your doctor immediately. There may be some soreness at the injection site, but if that doesn’t subside in the next few days, see your doctor. For immediate swelling at the injection site, you can use ice, which will also offer some relief from associated pain.

Pain management clinics have a lot of information on epidural steroid injections. If you need to know more about lumbar spinal stenosis, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. With early intervention, other treatments may work more effectively for you, but it also depends on how you respond to standard treatment plans.

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