Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections are a commonly used treatment at Global Pain Solutions to help relieve pain in the neck, arm, back, and leg. If you’re seeking pain management, you can contact at 602-610-7299 or book an appointment online.
  • Facet joint injections

What are Epidural Steroid Injections?

An epidural steroid injection is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat back pain, neck pain, and nerve pain conditions. Many patients find relief during acute pain episodes from these injections. Some individuals experience enough pain reduction to return to normal activities after a single injection, while others use them in combination with rehabilitation like physical therapy. Relief can last from one week to over a year.

Benefits of Epidural Steroid Injections

  • Decrease in pain, especially in the legs and back
  • Improved function and mobility
  • Reduced dependency on pain medications
  • Reduction of inflammatory proteins that exacerbate pain
  • Potential delay or avoidance of surgery

How Epidural Injections Work

During the procedure, a small needle is inserted into the epidural space under X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy). Once placement is confirmed, a corticosteroid combined with a local anesthetic is injected. The corticosteroid reduces inflammation and swelling in the epidural space, relieving pressure on nerves and surrounding tissues. The anesthetic provides immediate pain relief and helps flush out inflammatory proteins.

Conditions Treated with Epidural Injections

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used for pain stemming from inflammation and nerve irritation in the lumbar and cervical spine. Conditions treated include:
  • Cervical degenerative disc disease
  • Lumbar degenerative disc disease
  • Lumbar disc bulge or herniation
  • Lumbar radicular pain
  • Cervical radicular pain
  • Compression fractures
  • Lower back pain
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Sciatica
  • Cervical spinal stenosis
  • Cysts
  • Annular tear
  • Neuropathy
  • Postherpetic neuralgia

Risks and Considerations

Although epidural steroid injections are generally safe, they carry some risks including infection, bleeding, nerve damage, dural puncture (leading to severe headaches), and rare but serious complications such as paralysis or stroke. Side effects like dizziness or nausea may also occur. It’s important to discuss these risks with your healthcare provider and report any unusual symptoms immediately.

Injections should be limited to two or three per year to avoid potential weakening of spinal bones or nearby muscles. Imaging studies such as X-rays or MRI scans are typically performed before the procedure to guide treatment.
Epidural steroid injections remain a valuable option for managing severe spinal pain and nerve irritation, providing targeted relief when other treatments have not been effective.