If you’re experiencing chronic back, neck, or radiating nerve pain, epidural steroid injections may help reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort caused by conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis. Dr. Seth Grossman, our board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, provides personalized care focused on helping you return to the activities you love again.
Relieve Inflamed Spinal Nerves
Epidural steroid injections are minimally invasive treatments that reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves. During the procedure, a corticosteroid medication is injected into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. By decreasing inflammation, these injections may help relieve pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms caused by conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or nerve compression. Many patients experience meaningful relief that supports daily activities and rehabilitation efforts.
What Do Epidural Steroid Injections Treat?
Epidural steroid injections are commonly recommended for spinal conditions that cause inflammation, irritation, or compression of the nerve roots. By reducing inflammation around affected nerves, these injections may help relieve pain and improve your ability to move more comfortably. Your provider may recommend this treatment for conditions such as:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar or cervical radiculopathy
- Pinched nerves
- Foraminal stenosis
- Chronic neck or back pain caused by nerve inflammation
What Happens During Epidural Steroid Injections?
Before the procedure, Dr. Grossman will review your symptoms, imaging studies, and medical history to confirm the most appropriate injection site. You will be positioned comfortably on the procedure table, and the treatment area will be cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic. Using real-time X-Ray guidance and contrast dye to verify precise placement, Dr. Grossman carefully advances a thin needle into the epidural space surrounding the affected spinal nerve.
Once the needle is correctly positioned, the corticosteroid medication, often combined with a local anesthetic, is injected to reduce inflammation around the irritated nerve. You may feel mild pressure during the injection, but significant discomfort is uncommon. After a brief observation period, you can typically return home and gradually resume normal activities as directed.
Benefits of Epidural Steroid Injections:
- Targets inflammation at the source of nerve pain
- May provide meaningful relief from back, neck, and radiating pain
- Minimally invasive alternative to surgery for appropriate candidates
- Performed without large incisions or extensive downtime
- Can make physical therapy and rehabilitation more comfortable
- Helps reduce pain, numbness, and tingling caused by irritated nerves
- May decrease the need for oral pain medications
- Outpatient procedure with a relatively short treatment time
FAQs
How Long Does It Take for Epidural Steroid Injections to Work?
Some people notice improvement within a few days, while others may experience gradual relief over one to two weeks as the medication reduces inflammation. Your response depends on the underlying condition, the severity of inflammation, and how your body responds to treatment.
How Long Does Pain Relief Last?
The duration of relief varies from person to person. Some patients experience benefits for several weeks, while others may continue to feel relief for several months. The goal is often to reduce pain enough to help you participate in physical therapy and continue your recovery.
Will I Need Surgery After an Epidural Steroid Injection?
Not necessarily. For many people, epidural steroid injections provide enough symptom relief to allow conservative treatments such as physical therapy and activity modification to be effective. However, if significant nerve compression or spinal instability is present, surgery may still be the most appropriate option. Dr. Grossman will discuss the best treatment plan for you.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Dr. Seth Grossman is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and leading New Jersey spine specialist dedicated to delivering personalized care. He believes in exhausting all effective non-surgical treatments before considering surgery, using advanced, evidence-based techniques to help relieve pain. If chronic nerve pain is affecting your quality of life, schedule a consultation with Grossman Spine to learn whether epidural steroid injections are suitable for you.
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