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Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Specialist Q&A

A lumbar epidural steroid injection is an anti-inflammatory medication injection into the epidural area surrounding the spinal nerves in your lower back. A lumbar epidural steroid injection is often used to offer proper short-term pain relief so that you can begin or maintain physical therapy or avoid more invasive pain relief methods. An epidural steroid injection may be an effective treatment option if you have lower back and radiating nerve discomfort. At Global Neuro & Spine Institute, Dr. Michael S. Slobasky, DO, DABPMR, and his team provide epidural steroid injections to treat persistent back and neck pain. For more information, contact us today or schedule an online appointment. We have convenient locations to serve you in Orlando FL, Jensen Beach FL, Malabar Palm Bay FL, Atlantis FL, Fort Pierce FL, Winter Park FL and Plantation, FL.

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Specialist Near Me in Orlando, Jensen Beach, Malabar Palm Bay, Atlantis, Fort Pierce, Winter Park and Plantation, FL.
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Specialist Near Me in Orlando, Jensen Beach, Malabar Palm Bay, Atlantis, Fort Pierce, Winter Park and Plantation, FL.

Table of Contents:

What is the success rate of lumbar epidural steroid injections?
How long does a lumbar epidural steroid injection take to work?
How often can you get lumbar epidural steroid injections?
What do you do after a lumbar epidural steroid injection?

Lumbar epidural steroid injections are administered into the back around the spinal cord with the goal of providing relief for pain, numbness, or tingling, that is being experienced in the back, leg or buttock. The inclusion of a steroid helps to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain to provide long-lasting relief for patients.

What is the success rate of lumbar epidural steroid injections?


Lumbar epidural steroid injections have proven to provide substantial pain relief in the vast majority of patients who are receiving the treatment for their sciatica or disc herniation pain. The majority of patients will be able to experience at least 50% of their pain relieved with results that will last for around one year. The success rate for the lumbar epidural steroid injections can vary quite a bit depending on the severity of the condition and the degree of experienced pain, so it is very important to speak with a specialist in providing pain relief to determine if this course of treatment will provide significant benefits or if your specific condition should be treated using a different method.

How long does a lumbar epidural steroid injection take to work?


It is common to not experience pain relief for about two to three days after receiving the injection, after which point the pain relief will gradually increase and likely peak around two weeks following the injection. For the patients who are able to achieve successful results in substantial pain relief provided from the lumbar epidural steroid injections, the pain relief can last for anywhere from 6 to 12 months and be repeated as necessary to sustain the pain relief. Most patients will not notice a difference in their pain levels immediately following the injections, although it is possible that the pain will be temporarily lessened or worsened until the steroid has had a chance to start to work. It is also common to experience some tenderness or soreness at the site of injection for a couple of days following treatment, with a cold compress being the most effective course of action for relieving some pain. Patients are allowed to continue taking their normal pain medications following the injections for as long as they require until the pain relief is provided from the procedure.

How often can you get lumbar epidural steroid injections?


The lumbar epidural steroid injections are often recommended to be administered around 3 to 6 times annually, varying depending on the specific needs of each patient. Chronic pain conditions being treated with steroid injections will likely only require maintenance shots every 3 to 6 months, but in cases such as new disc herniation, where a quick and intensive treatment is required for complete pain relief, the injections may need to be repeated only several weeks apart. For many cases though, physicians will only recommend two to three lumbar epidural steroid injections per year to limit the risk of developing short- or long-term side effects as much as possible. If the pain relief does not last long enough, more invasive options may need to be considered in order to provide the patient with sufficient relief, but the injections can also be used as a short-term option until the patient has access to the longer-term options.

What do you do after a lumbar epidural steroid injection?


Particularly if it is your first time receiving the injections, it is possible that you will be asked by your lumbar epidural steroid injection provider to stay either seated or laying down for an hour or two immediately following the procedure to ensure there are no side effects or adverse reactions. It may be difficult to walk immediately following the procedure as well, so it is recommended that patients plan to rest and relax at home for at least 24 hours predominantly in a reclined position. Any walking or sitting upright should be limited to 10 to 20 minutes for the first day or 2 as well. Any medications that would normally be taken can continue being taken as prescribed unless otherwise stated by the physician. It is up to the patient to determine if they need a few days following the procedure before returning to their normal activities, or if they can resume all normal activities within a couple of days. However, even if the pain is substantially lessened, it is very important to try to take it easy and to avoid any strenuous or physical activities that would likely lead to aggravation of the pain.

If you’re concerned about having a lumbar ESI, don’t be hesitant to ask our specialists about it and the surgery. They are there to answer any inquiries you may have. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Orlando FL, Conway FL, Edgewood FL, Jensen Beach FL, Ocean Breeze FL, Rio FL, Malabar Palm Bay FL, Melbourne FL, Atlantis FL, Palm Springs FL, Boynton Beach FL, Fort Pierce FL, White City FL, St Lucie FL, Plantation FL, Pine Island Ridge FL, Lauderhill FL, Winter Park FL, Bertha FL, Alafaya FL and surrounding areas. We also encourage our patients to visit us online to learn more about our locations and directions to our clinics.

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Orlando, FL

Winter Park, FL

  • 3727 N. Goldenrod Rd #103, Winter Park, FL 32792
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Fort Pierce, FL

Jensen Beach FL

  • 4243 NW Federal Highway Jensen Beach, FL 34957
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Malabar Palm Bay, FL

Atlantis, FL

  • 130 John F Kennedy Dr Ste# 138, Atlantis, FL 33462
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Plantation, FL

 

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