Epidural injections for back pain

Definition

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is the delivery of powerful anti-inflammatory medicine directly into the space outside of the sac of fluid around your spinal cord. This area is called the epidural space.

ESI is not the same as epidural anesthesia given just before childbirth or certain types of surgery.

Alternative Names

ESI; Spinal injection for back pain; Back pain injection; Steroid injection - epidural; Steroid injection - back

Description

ESI is done in a hospital or outpatient clinic. The procedure is done in the following way:

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Your provider may recommend ESI if you have pain that spreads from the lower spine to the hips or down the leg. This pain is caused by pressure on a nerve as it leaves the spine, most often due to a bulging disk.

ESI is used only when your pain has not improved with medicines, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical treatments.

Risks

ESI is generally safe. Complications may include:

Talk to your provider about your risk for complications.

Having these injections too often may weaken the bones of your spine or nearby muscles. Receiving higher doses of the steroids in the injections may also cause these problems. Because of this, most providers limit people to two or three injections per year.

Your provider will most likely have ordered x-rays, MRI, or CT scan of the back before this procedure. This helps your provider determine the area to be treated.

Before the Procedure

Tell your provider:

You may be told to temporarily stop taking blood thinners. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and heparin.

After the Procedure

You may feel some discomfort in the area where the needle was inserted. This should last only a few hours.

You may be told to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Your pain may become worse for 2 to 3 days after the injection before it begins to improve. The steroid usually takes 2 to 3 days to work.

If you receive medicines to make you sleepy during the procedure, you must arrange for someone to drive you home.

Outlook (Prognosis)

ESI provides short-term pain relief in at least one half of the people who receive it. Symptoms may remain better for weeks to months, but rarely up to a year.

The procedure does not cure the cause of your back pain. You will need to continue back exercises and other treatments.

References

Basi HK, Rosenquist RW. Spine injections. In: Steinmetz MP, Berven SH, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 73.

Dixit R. Low back pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 50.

Narayan S, Dubin A. Nerve blocks: spine. In: Argoff CE, Dubin A, Pilitsis JG, eds. Pain Management Secrets. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 43.



Review Date: 4/24/2023
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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