Steroid Spine Injections
At APSI Wellness, we specialize in advanced pain management treatments designed to help you reclaim your quality of life. Our experienced team provides comprehensive care including Steroid Injections that can offer significant relief from chronic back pain.
What Are Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?
Lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESIs) are a minimally invasive treatment option designed to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the lower back and legs. These injections deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots in the lumbar (lower back) region. The epidural space is a cushioning layer of fat and blood vessels that protects the spinal cord and nerves, making it an ideal target for pain-relieving medication.
The procedure combines a corticosteroid medication with a local anesthetic. The corticosteroid works to reduce inflammation around compressed or irritated nerves, while the anesthetic provides immediate pain relief. This dual-action approach makes lumbar epidural steroid injections particularly effective for conditions involving nerve compression or inflammation in the lower spine.
How Do Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Work?
The mechanism behind lumbar epidural steroid injections is both elegant and effective. When you experience lower back pain radiating into your legs, it’s often due to inflammation pressing on spinal nerves. This inflammation can result from herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. The injected corticosteroid medication mimics the effects of cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands that reduces inflammation throughout the body.
By delivering this medication directly to the source of inflammation, epidural injections can provide more targeted and powerful relief than oral medications. The local anesthetic component offers immediate pain relief, which can help you participate more fully in physical therapy and other rehabilitative treatments. Many patients notice a significant reduction in pain within a few days of the injection, though it may take up to two weeks to experience the full therapeutic effect.
Conditions Treated with Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
At APSI Wellness, we use lumbar epidural steroid injections to treat a variety of conditions that cause lower back and leg pain:
- Herniated or Bulging Discs: When the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer, it can compress nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
- Spinal Stenosis: This condition involves narrowing of the spinal canal, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, leading to pain and mobility issues.
- Sciatica: Characterized by pain radiating along the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the hips and down each leg, often caused by nerve compression.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Age-related wear and tear on spinal discs can lead to chronic pain and inflammation.
- Radiculopathy: Nerve root compression that causes pain, numbness, or weakness along the path of the affected nerve.
- Post-Laminectomy Syndrome: Persistent pain following back surgery that may benefit from targeted steroid injections.
The Injection Procedure: What to Expect
Understanding the procedure can help ease any anxiety you might have about receiving a lumbar epidural steroid injection. At APSI Wellness, we prioritize your comfort and safety throughout the entire process. The procedure typically takes 15 to 30 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can return home the same day.
Before the injection, you’ll be positioned either lying on your stomach or sitting in a way that provides the best access to your lower back. The injection site will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Your physician will use fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray guidance) to ensure precise needle placement in the epidural space. This imaging technology allows for accurate delivery of the medication to the exact location where it’s needed most.
You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the injection site, which may cause a brief stinging sensation. Once the area is numb, your physician will carefully insert the epidural needle and inject a small amount of contrast dye to confirm proper positioning. Finally, the steroid medication and anesthetic are injected. While you may feel some pressure during the injection, most patients report minimal discomfort.
Recovery and Results
After receiving a lumbar epidural steroid injection at APSI Wellness, you’ll spend a brief period in our recovery area for monitoring. Most patients can resume normal activities within 24 hours, though we recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day. Some people experience temporary numbness or weakness in their legs due to the local anesthetic, but this typically resolves within a few hours.
The timeline for experiencing pain relief can vary from person to person. Some patients notice improvement within a few days, while others may take up to two weeks to feel the full benefits. The duration of pain relief also varies—some people experience relief for several weeks, while others may benefit for several months or longer. Factors such as the underlying condition, severity of symptoms, and individual response to the medication all influence outcomes.
If you experience significant relief from your first injection, your physician may recommend a series of injections for optimal results. Generally, patients receive no more than three to four injections per year to minimize potential side effects while maximizing therapeutic benefits.
Benefits and Considerations
Lumbar epidural steroid injections offer numerous advantages for people struggling with chronic lower back pain. They provide targeted pain relief without the need for surgery, allowing many patients to avoid or delay more invasive procedures. The injections can also enhance your ability to participate in physical therapy and other rehabilitative treatments by reducing pain and inflammation.
Like any medical procedure, epidural steroid injections carry some risks, though serious complications are rare. Potential side effects may include temporary increase in pain, headache, flushing, elevated blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, and very rarely, infection or nerve damage. Your physician at APSI Wellness will discuss these risks with you and determine whether this treatment is appropriate for your specific condition.
Why Choose APSI Wellness?
At APSI Wellness, we understand that chronic pain affects every aspect of your life. Our team of experienced physicians specializes in interventional pain management techniques, including lumbar epidural steroid injections. We use state-of-the-art equipment and advanced imaging technology to ensure precise, safe, and effective treatment.
Our comprehensive approach to pain management means we don’t just treat symptoms—we work to identify and address the underlying causes of your pain. Whether you need Steroid Injections or other advanced treatments, we’ll develop a personalized care plan tailored to your unique needs and goals.
We’re proud to serve patients at our three convenient locations across Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida, making quality pain management accessible to more people in need of relief. Our commitment to excellence and patient-centered care has made us a trusted partner in pain management for countless individuals seeking to improve their quality of life.
