Calm the nerve, quiet the pain.

— What it is

Epidural Steroid Injections

After a car accident, a disc injury or aggravation of an existing narrowing can press on a spinal nerve. When this happens, the nerve becomes inflamed — and that inflammation is often what turns a mechanical problem into burning, shooting, radiating pain. An epidural steroid injection places long-acting anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space right beside the affected nerve, where it can work directly instead of circulating through your whole body.

• A small amount of steroid, often combined with local anesthetic, is placed into the epidural space next to the irritated nerve root.
• The medication reduces swelling around the nerve, which reduces the radiating pain, tingling, and numbness the nerve is producing.
• It is performed with live X-ray guidance and contrast so placement is confirmed, not estimated.
• The whole appointment usually takes well under an hour, and the injection itself only minutes.