There was a time when chronic back pain meant only one treatment – open surgery. Fortunately, modern pain physicians have many treatment options to offer to chronic back pain patients. The treatment always begins with conservative treatment options which gives the body a chance to heal itself naturally.
For patients suffering from back and extremity pain caused due to an inflamed nerve root in the spine, the treatment options often include ESIs or Epidural Steroid Injections.
Epidural steroid injections are used to treat pain stemming from a wide range of spinal conditions that cause arm and leg pain. Such conditions often result in inflammation of a nerve root, causing pain. Inflammation can occur gradually as in arthritis, appear suddenly as in a herniated disc or due to back and neck instability as in spondylolisthesis.
In arthritis, the facet joints develop bone spurs and back and neck ligaments thicken. These impinge the nerve root and irritate it.
The nerve root can also be irritated due to an acute disc herniation. When the disc is herniated, the herniated material causes inflammation. The nerve root that is close to the disc herniation also gets attacked by inflammation.
Effectiveness of Epidural Steroid Injection
An epidural steroid injection typically includes steroids such as Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone acetate. The steroid medication reduces the body’s response to inflammation around the disc. The steroids are also mixed with short-term anesthetics like lidocaine or bupivacaine. This drug combination ensures relief in most patients. Decreasing the pain and inflammation around the nerve root allows the body to heal.
The epidural steroid injection helps to buy time while the body heals. Most patients experience pain relief with the help of the numbing medicine that soothes the inflamed nerve roots.
Once the patient experiences some pain relief, physical therapy can then be added to the treatment for further relief. Physical therapy helps to restore motion in the neck or back, strengthening the muscles giving time to the body to reabsorb the disc herniation or heal the injury.
If the effect of the steroid injection wears off, it can be repeated if your doctor recommends. For those who do not experience relief, there are other treatment options available that are minimally invasive and highly effective.
Acute pain and injuries, when left untreated, can worsen and turn into chronic pain. Do not allow that to happen. Consult a pain management specialist if your pain doesn’t go away or interferes with your everyday life.
If you are looking for an experienced back pain specialist in Arizona, consult the best pain doctors at Pain and Spine Clinics in Phoenix. Phoenix pain doctors treat all types of pain, including different kind of headaches such as migraines, cluster headaches, tension, etc. We also specialize in treating back and neck pain, pelvic/abdominal pain, RSD and discomfort in one’s shoulder, hip, knees and ankle joints.