Will An Epidural Injection Relieve My Lower Back Pain?

Dealing with chronic lower back pain can have a significant impact on your physical and emotional health. If left untreated, it may lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression.

Our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at MidJersey Orthopaedics understand the toll lower back pain takes on your life and well-being. We offer a wide range of solutions for patients in Flemington, Bridgewater, and Washington, New Jersey, including various spine injections. 

What are epidural steroid injections?

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a type of spine injection for pain management. They involve injecting corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medications into your epidural space, the fatty tissue surrounding your spinal cord. 

The medication helps reduce inflammation of your nerve roots, alleviating swelling, redness, and pain. Your results may vary from those of other patients with similar back pain problems, but many discover lasting relief, some for up to one year. 

What can epidural injections treat?

Epidural steroid injections are a treatment option for relieving neck and lower back pain caused by irritation or compression of spinal nerves. Conditions that lead to spinal nerve issues and could potentially benefit from epidural steroid injections include:

• Bone spurs
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica 
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Arthritis

What are the risks of epidural injections?

Epidural steroid injections are generally safe, but like any medical procedure, there are potential risks. These risks include bleeding, infections, or damage to your nerves. We typically advise you to stop taking medications or supplements that thin your blood up to a week before your procedure to reduce your risk of bleeding. This may include certain pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Overuse of epidural injections or extremely high doses can pose significant risks. Excessive corticosteroid doses may lead to the weakening of your bones and surrounding tissues, potentially causing additional health issues.

Epidural injections are safe and a stellar option for getting relief from chronic pain when conservative measures fail. However, not everyone gets pain relief from an epidural injection. 

Our injection specialists may determine that another type of injection would work better for you. Other spine injections we offer include facet joint injections and sacroiliac joint injections.

We also offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to help alleviate some forms of lower back pain.

What type of spine injection is right for me?

To identify the most suitable spine injection for your specific needs, your physician at MidJersey Orthopaedics performs a thorough physical examination, inquires about your symptoms, and reviews your medical history. 

Based on your symptoms, we may also request an MRI or X-rays to obtain a more detailed view of your bones, joints, and soft tissues in your spine. With this comprehensive information at hand, your physician can make treatment recommendations tailored to your individual requirements. 

Don’t suffer needlessly with lower back pain. Call Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics or book an appointment online today to schedule an exam and consultation with one of our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists.