Epidural Injection for Back Pain
If you have a chronic pain condition, not only are you in constant pain, but you can find it hard to cope both physically and mentally with the unrelenting discomfort. Gazelle Aram, MD, at Expert Care Center in Delray Beach, Florida, is a pain specialist who provides a holistic approach to pain management so you can find the treatments that work best for your condition. To get started, schedule a consultation with Dr. Aram online or by phone today.
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What is pain management?
Pain management is a comprehensive care plan that helps patients cope when they have severe or chronic pain conditions for which it may not be possible to eradicate the pain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic pain is a problem that affects around 50 million Americans, with almost 20 million experiencing some form of severe chronic pain.
Administering increasingly potent doses of pain-relieving medication isn’t effective as the only treatment for chronic pain, although medicines do have their place in pain management.
Dr. Aram creates a pain management plan for her patients at Expert Care Center that incorporates medication and other types of therapies to achieve optimal outcomes and relieve pain as much as possible.
What conditions cause chronic pain?
Long-term degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, disc herniations, and nerve damage are a major cause of chronic pain, as are many other incurable musculoskeletal conditions. Injuries to soft tissues that don’t receive the correct treatment in the early stages can also become chronic problems, like an acute back injury developing into ongoing lower back pain.
Conditions arising from repetitive stress that leads to inflammation and small tears in your tendons, such as tennis elbow or tendonitis, are another frequent cause of chronic pain.
Chronic pain often starts when there’s an injury or illness, and in the acute stage, the pain acts as a warning that there’s something wrong. However, after the acute phase, the pain sometimes continues even though it’s become redundant, so instead of helping you, it’s making everything far harder.
Chronic pain can also result from nerve damage or dysfunction, which means your nerve endings send pain signals back to your brain even when there’s no tissue damage.
Candidates for Epidural Steroid Injection
Patients Suffering From Specific Conditions
Other Considerations for Candidacy
Benefits of Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
Pain Relief
Enhanced Quality of Life
Reduction in the Need for Oral Pain Medication
Improved Mobility
Components
of the Epidural Injection
Corticosteroids
Anesthetic
How the Epidural Steroid Injection Procedure Is Performed
Consultation
Preparation
Procedure
the injection will be administered is cleaned and sterilized. A local anesthetic is applied to numb the skin. Using fluoroscopic guidance, Dr. Aram will insert a needle into the epidural space in your spine and inject the medications. The epidural needle is removed once the injection is complete, and a small bandage is applied to the injection site.
Post-Procedure Care
Once you’ve had an epidural injection, lying down and relaxing for at least two hours after you get home is crucial. Over-the-counter pain medications may be taken if recommended by your healthcare provider. For the initial 24 hours, restrict periods of walking or sitting to no more than 20 minutes at a time and use an ice pack on the area where the injection was administered to minimize swelling. Gradually increase your activity level over the next week, avoiding strenuous exercises and heavy lifting. Monitor for signs of infection like redness or swelling at the injection site.
What treatments are available for pain management?
- Alternative medicine
- Epidural steroids
- Facet joint injections
- Nerve blocks
- Joint and soft tissue injections using ultrasound guidance
- Stretching exercises
There are also implantable technologies that are effective for people with severe pain who aren’t finding relief with other interventions. Devices such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation work by blocking pain signals so they don’t reach the brain.
Pain management also requires consideration of the importance of mental health – for example, counseling, therapy, and information about managing pain from a psychological perspective.
For more information about pain management, call Expert Care Center or book a consultation online today.
Frequently Asked Question
Is the epidural injection procedure painful?
The epidural injection procedure is generally not considered painful, as a local anesthetic is often used to numb the area before the injection. However, some patients may experience mild discomfort or pressure during the needle insertion.
