What Are Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs)?
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs) are a common non-surgical treatment option for relieving pain caused by inflammation of spinal nerves. This inflammation can result from conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. ESIs deliver a combination of a local anesthetic and corticosteroid medication directly into the epidural space surrounding the spinal nerves, aiming to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
What Conditions Do
Epidural Steroid Injections Treat?
Epidural Steroid Injections can be beneficial for a variety of spinal conditions, including:
Herniated discs: ESIs can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain caused by the compression of spinal nerves due to a herniated disc.
Spinal stenosis: ESIs may alleviate pain and discomfort associated with spinal stenosis by reducing inflammation in the affected area and relieving pressure on the spinal nerves.
Degenerative disc disease: ESIs can provide relief from pain caused by inflammation and irritation of the spinal nerves due to degenerative changes in the discs.
Sciatica: ESIs may help alleviate the pain and discomfort of sciatica, a condition characterized by pain radiating from the lower back down the leg, by reducing inflammation around the affected nerve roots.
How Do Epidural Steroid Injections Work?
During an Epidural Steroid Injection, you'll lie on your stomach while a board-certified pain management physician uses fluoroscopy (live X-ray) guidance to precisely place a needle into the epidural space. Once the needle is correctly positioned, a combination of a local anesthetic (such as lidocaine) and a corticosteroid medication (such as cortisone) is injected into the epidural space. The local anesthetic provides immediate pain relief, while the corticosteroid reduces inflammation and may provide longer-term relief.
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How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for Intracept®?The Intracept® Procedure is indicated for patients who have had: Chronic low back pain for at least six months, Who have tried conservative care for at least six months and whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic changes – indicating damage at the vertebral endplates has led to inflammation. The Intracept Procedure, as with any procedure, has risks that should be discussed between the patient and medical provider.
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How Long Does Pain Relief Last following the Intracept® Procedure?Most people start to feel pain relief within 2 weeks after the procedure. Clinical evidence demonstrates the majority of patients experience significant improvements in function and pain 3-months post procedure that are sustained more than 5 years after a single treatment.
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Is the Intracept® Procedure painful?Some patients experience 2-3 days of soreness after the procedure, but overall it is very well tolerated and most patients return to normal activities 24 hours later.
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What should I expect after the procedure?Most patients report at least 50% improvement of their chronic, vertebrogenic low back pain at 2 weeks after the procedure.
