Do you have chronic pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers? It might be time for a corticosteroid epidural injection. This is a proven interventional pain technique that reduces inflammation in the tissues around the nerves near your spine, decreasing pressure and pain.
At Thrive Pain Management in Irving, Texas, Dr. Teddrick Dunson offers epidural corticosteroid injections as a non-opioid, long-term pain relief option for patients with chronic back pain. He can discuss your back pain and its causes with you to determine if you can benefit from this treatment.
The science behind epidural steroid injections
Epidural steroid injections contain an analgesic (pain reliever) and a local anesthetic (numbing agent). When injected directly into the outermost portion of your spinal canal, known as the epidural space, this medicine goes to work quickly to reduce inflammation and pain.
If Dr. Dunson determines that epidural steroid injections can help alleviate your chronic back pain, he carefully injects the medication at the precise point in your spine that is generating pain. The medication works to reduce swelling so your nerves aren’t subjected to pressure.
An epidural injection usually provides significant pain relief in a few days, but it can take as long as a week if there is significant swelling to overcome. The steroids typically remain effective for up to three months.
Conditions that can benefit from an epidural steroid injection
Epidural steroid injections aren’t commonly ordered just for a back muscle sprain or strain. They focus on pain and other symptoms associated with your spinal nerves. The treatment is mostly used for chronic pain patients who haven’t had luck with more conservative treatment like physical therapy or who can’t take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, found in most OTC medications).
Dr. Dunson completes a full patient history with you and asks you questions about your back pain as well as reviews your medical records and any scans available. You could be a candidate for an epidural injection if you have:
- Existing injury or trauma to your vertebrae, spinal nerves, or surrounding tissues
- Bulging or herniated discs from an old injury
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs on the spine
- Failed back surgery syndrome
Epidural steroid injections are generally safe and effective, but they cause small amounts of damage to the tissues when injected. If you get too many doses of steroids in a short time, your bones and muscles can suffer damage. You also increase the risk of side effects like high blood sugar, insomnia, headaches, facial flushing, or fever.
Dr. Dunson works with you to manage your pain effectively and safely over the long term. Do you want to explore the option of epidural injections for back pain? Call our office at 469-351-3432, or book an appointment online today.
