Ying H. Chen, DO, FACOS
Neurosurgeon
What are epidural steroid injections, and how are they performed?
Does your pain persist despite taking over-the-counter medication and physical therapy?
An epidural steroid injection may be able to provide the pain relief you have been searching for! But you may be wondering: “What are epidural injections?”
Our board-certified spine specialists at OrthoNeuro are experts in epidural steroid injections and have helped thousands return to an active and healthy lifestyle following this procedure. We can help you as well.
Schedule an appointment at one of our locations throughout Greater Columbus today!
An ESI is a minimally invasive needle-based procedure used to treat spine pain related to spinal stenosis, nerve compression, and/or nerve inflammation.
The epidural needle is inserted into the epidural space around your spinal cord.
This technique of combining corticosteroids and anesthetic medications can reduce the localized pain in your back or neck (along your spinal cord) and alleviate any discomfort radiating into your extremities that comes from inflamed spinal nerves.
This procedure is very common and helps millions of people in America manage their pain.
There are four types of ESIs. They are based on the specific section of your spine in which your provider administers the medication and are as follows:
You may make a good candidate if you have pain in your neck, arm, low back, or leg.
An ESI injection may be beneficial specifically if you have one or more of the following conditions:
You may not make a good candidate for an ESI if you:
At OrthoNeuro, epidural steroid injections are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that you can go home the same day as your procedure. These injection treatments take only minutes.
We also use real-time X-ray (fluoroscopy) to ensure precise epidural needle placement and the medication to ensure the correct spinal nerve is treated. To ensure your comfort, a mild sedative and local anesthetic will be administered by your OrthoNeuro expert prior to the injection. General anesthesia is not necessary, meaning you will not be put to sleep.
You will experience little to no discomfort during or after your procedure. Your results may last for several months, and repeat injections may be performed as needed to maintain results.
ESIs are generally safe. Although rare, there are risks of potential side effects and complications that can arise. These include:
There are several benefits that result from having epidural corticosteroid injections, including:
Schedule an appointment at OrthoNeuro today with a board-certified spine specialist at one of our many convenient locations throughout Columbus, OH. We will evaluate your specific circumstances and goals to see if epidural injections would be the right treatment to relieve your chronic pain.
If you have been considering an epidural steroid injection, schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Spine Specialists at one of our 7 convenient locations throughout Greater Columbus.
We will evaluate your unique lifestyle and goals to determine which type of treatment is best for you.
Medically reviewed by
Related Services
Neurosurgeon
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Interventional Pain Management Specialist
Interventional Pain Management Specialist
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
“I recently had surgery on my lower back. I had heard that such surgery would result in pain and cause me difficulties in doing ordinary daily tasks but, I experienced no pain and was able to do normal activities at home and at church. Also, being a bee keeper, I was able to work the hives and extract the honey from most of the hives”
James B.
Patient
