An epidural injection provides temporary relief from pain or inflammation in the spine or extremities. The injection goes into your “epidural space,” which is located outside the membrane that protects your spinal cord. It does not penetrate your spinal cord, spinal nerves or vertebral bone. 

Doctors use epidural injections for a variety of reasons, such as minimizing pain during and after surgery. As versatile as epidural injections can be, they are not the right procedure for every case. This is why it’s important to talk to a pain management doctor about your individual symptoms. 

How Does an Epidural Steroid Injection Work? 

An epidural injection contains a specific medication, usually a steroid, to decrease pain and inflammation in the back, neck, arms or legs. To ensure the needle is placed into the correct spot, a pain management doctor uses a type of imaging guidance like fluoroscopy or computed tomography. The goal is to find the closest spot to the pain while staying within the epidural space. 

An epidural procedure takes about 15 minutes. You’ll feel the numbing effects first, but the steroid part of the shot usually takes longer to work, typically 2 to 5 days. Epidural injections work differently for everyone. Some people feel a great deal of relief from them, while others only see a mild improvement. You won’t know which type of person you are until you have an injection done. If you do feel relief, you can expect it to last for a few months.

What Types of Conditions Does an Epidural Injection Treat? 

The types of conditions that are most commonly treated by epidural injections are: 

• Pinched nerves 
• Pain coming from the spine
• Herniated discs 
• Spinal stenosis 
• Post-operative surgical pain 
• Bone spurs 

Can an Epidural Injection Help with My Pain? 

Depending on your situation, an epidural injection may be a safe and effective way to provide fast pain relief. But, epidurals are not right for every situation and every person. By scheduling an appointment with a back pain doctor, you can discuss your symptoms, where the pain is coming from and the things that make it better or worse. The doctor can then determine if you are a good candidate for epidural injections. 

Jersey Rehab offers various therapies to help clients manage pain, restore mobility and improve quality of life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our four locations. We look forward to improving your pain levels using a therapeutic procedure like epidural injections.