Epidural Steroid Injections

If you have spinal pain that radiates into your arms or legs and none of the solutions you’ve tried have delivered lasting results, epidural steroid injections may finally provide relief. At the Anchor Spine & Joint offices in Tampa, Riverview, Odessa, Pinellas Park, and Lutz, Florida, the skilled orthopedic surgeon team safely administers pain-relieving injections. To schedule your consultation today, call the nearest office or book online.

What are epidural steroid injections?

If you suffer from chronic pain, your Anchor Spine & Joint provider may recommend this innovative solution. Epidural steroid injections deliver corticosteroids and a local anesthetic directly into the spine’s epidural space, which is the area surrounding the spinal cord and the nerves that exit it.

The combination is important because the corticosteroid reduces inflammation and nerve irritation, while the anesthetic relieves your pain.

While these injections can’t cure the underlying condition, reducing inflammation and relieving pain helps you resume normal activities and engage more effectively in physical therapy and other treatments.

Can I benefit from epidural steroid injections?

If your pain radiates along the path of a spinal nerve into the arms or legs, your provider may recommend steroid injections. Anchor Spine & Joint can treat many painful conditions, including:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis

Epidural steroid injections are most beneficial if you have acute or chronic nerve root inflammation that hasn’t responded well to other non-surgical treatments.

What happens when I get an epidural steroid injection?

Before the procedure, your provider reviews your medical history, requests imaging (such as MRI or CT scans) if necessary, and reviews your current symptoms. They let you know if you need to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, before the procedure.

When you come to your appointment, you rest on an exam table in a position that lets your provider access the targeted area.

After cleaning the area and applying a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort, your provider injects a steroid and an anesthetic into the precise spot. Overall, the procedure typically takes only 15-30 minutes.

What happens after my epidural steroid injection?

The team observes you for a while as you recover, and then you can go home. Since you need to avoid driving for at least 12 hours after your injection, arrange for a ride home and take it easy for 24-48 hours.

You may experience some soreness, a headache, or a temporary increase in pain, but the steroid should take full effect within a few days, with the relief lasting from weeks to several months.

Epidural steroid injections may help you get back to the work and hobbies you love. You can schedule a consultation to discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with your Anchor Spine & Joint provider by calling the nearest office or booking online today.