Epidural steroid injections are commonly used as a form of conservative treatment for a herniated disc in the back. While oral pain medications deliver medication throughout the entire body, injections offer the benefit of being able to focus the medication on the exact source of the pain. Corticosteroid injections reduce inflammation at the site of a disc herniation, thus relieving localized pain that is caused by inflammation of the torn disc wall (annulus fibrosus), radicular pain that is caused by inflamed portions of the disc pressing on nearby spinal nerve roots, and any discomfort caused by the inflamed nerves themselves.

How Do Steroid Injections Work?

A steroid injection for a herniated disc in the back is given in the outermost layer of the spinal canal, which is the epidural space. This area contains fat, blood vessels, arteries, and the spinal nerve roots. If your doctor suggests getting an epidural steroid injection as part of your treatment regimen for a herniated disc in the back, the injection may be given by an anesthesiologist or neurologist. First, the injection site will be thoroughly cleaned and possibly numbed. Next, the needle is inserted into the skin and, with the use of a fluoroscope (a type of X-ray), the doctor is able to guide the needle to the proper location. Contrast dye is often used to further confirm that the needle is targeting the correct area along the spine.

The patient may feel some pressure as the steroid is being injected, though most individuals do not report feeling pain from the injection because a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, is usually administered with the steroid. The entire procedure usually takes no longer than 20 minutes, and patients can go home about 30 minutes after the injection if no side effects or complications arise. Some soreness may develop at the site of the injection in the days that follow. Cortisone is a slow-release steroid and patients generally begin to feel its effects three to five days after the injection, and may experience relief for anywhere from several weeks to a year.

Exploring Additional Treatments for a Herniated Disc in the Back

Most doctors will recommend that epidural steroid injections for a herniated disc in the back be integrated into a treatment regimen that includes other conservative (nonsurgical) techniques. Patients may find that the relief they feel from the injection allows them to take part in physical therapy, gentle stretching, or low-impact exercise. Oral steroids, analgesics, hot/cold compresses, and behavior modification may also prove helpful. The majority of patients who suffer from a herniated disc will be able to successfully manage their symptoms with a combination of these treatments and will not need to consider the option of surgery. However, it may take time to formulate the correct treatment plan, and a period of trial and error may be necessary. If chronic pain persists after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, including corticosteroid injections, it might be time to explore surgical options.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for herniated discs and several other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/herniated_disc/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: herniated disc