Epidural Steroid Injections for Low Back Pain

Arthritis injection therapies provide a safe and non-invasive alternative to surgery. With a proper and prompt diagnosis, the treatment of the affected area will typically allow most patients to resume normal activities and return to work in a relatively short period of time.

Epidural injections consist of long lasting steroids, and on occasion, other medications that are injected to reduce inflammation and swelling of spinal nerves, as well as the surrounding tissue in the epidural space. An epidural steroid injection is generally successful in relieving lower back pain for approximately 50% of patients. The epidural space is defined as the area surrounding the spinal cord and the nerves stemming outward from it. This space is located inside of the spinal canal extending from the base of the tailbone to the neck.
These injections are highly effective in reducing, tingling, numbness, pain, in the lower back and other symptoms caused by lower back pain such as inflammation, irritation, and swelling. Most commonly, epidural injections are utilized to successfully treat nerve root pain present in the legs and arms as a result of irritation and inflammation, due to conditions such as herniated discs.