Relieve Lower Back Pain with Epidural Steroid Injections

Lower back pain can be debilitating. Even simple activities like lifting the laundry out of the washer, walking the dog or driving a car can be very painful and become unbearable.

Fortunately, a quick and effective non-surgical treatment called an epidural steroid injection (ESI) can relieve severe lower back pain. When more conventional therapies, like taking painkillers or engaging in physical therapy, are insufficient to reduce the pain, ESI is often recommended before turning to more drastic measures like surgery. In addition, epidural steroid injections are also used to help a person progress with a physical therapy regimen in the expectation that the therapy will provide a more comprehensive approach to managing the pain.

How Do Steroid Injections Work?

Steroid injections deliver targeted pain relief to a specific region. For example, ESIs target the epidural space around the spinal cord in the vertebrae. The injection contains a local anesthetic and steroidal medicine, which work together to relieve pain and inflammation.

Your doctor may suggest an MRI before administering a steroid injection to evaluate your lower back and pinpoint the area that requires treatment. X-rays may also detect trouble regions and guide the doctor’s injection administration. ESIs are typically used to treat lower back problems such as discs with a degenerative condition or herniated discs. They can also ease severe back pain from a specific injury incident.

How Long Do Epidural Injections Last for Back Pain?

Due to many variables, it is challenging to determine with precision how long an ESI will provide pain relief. One of these factors is that each patient’s injury and source of pain are unique. How the injection is administered is another variable. A patient can typically expect the pain reduction to last one to three months. However, some people experience pain alleviation lasting up to a year or more.

Physical therapy and lifestyle changes can extend this alleviation. In exceptional cases, ESI combined with physical therapy can prevent a patient from needing surgery.

Address Your Lower Back Pain

If you are considering getting epidural steroid injections for your lower back pain and want to learn more about the interventional treatments we offer, contact our team at Caliber Pain™ today to book your consultation at our medical facility in Midtown Manhattan.