Have you been struggling with chronic pain for a long time? Have you also been disappointed that the usual treatments just aren’t helping?
You may be a good candidate for an epidural steroid shot. This treatment can help manage stubborn pain and make a difference in your recovery. But it’s important to know if you’re a candidate for an epidural before seeking the treatment.
We want to help you start a life that is free from pain. Our founder Dr. Navin Mahallavaram and the rest of our providers offer many treatments that can help ease and manage acute and chronic pain. If you have been dealing with severe pain that can’t be helped by other means, an epidural could be the best option for you.
Epidural injections 101
Most people think of epidurals in terms of giving birth. But epidural steroid shots are a completely different treatment. While epidural anesthesia shots are given to pregnant individuals or those about to undergo surgery to numb pain, epidural steroid shots have both pain relievers and anti-inflammatory steroids that relieve pressure on your spinal nerves.
These shots have been shown to be safe and effective for treating chronic pain experienced in the lower back. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, between 50 and 84% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. The condition is also the highest cause of global disabilities.
But can anyone with lower back pain benefit from an epidural steroid shot? It’s a little more complicated than that. Below are some of the conditions best treated with epidural injections.
Sciatica
Sciatica patients often respond well to epidural shots. Sciatica is a chronic pain condition associated with inflammation that causes pain to radiate from the lower back down one or both legs. There are many at-home remedies and treatment options for sciatica, but if these don’t work, an epidural could be helpful.
Herniated disc
A herniated disc is a condition where the inside of the spinal disc comes out through a crack in the outer part of the disc and pushes on a nerve. It’s very painful. Sometimes, more conservative treatments might not work, which is when an epidural could be useful.
Spinal stenosis
This condition occurs when the spinal canal becomes narrower with age, which puts pressure on the spinal nerves. It is common to experience spinal stenosis in the lower back.
Cervical radiculopathy
Unlike the other conditions mentioned here, cervical radiculopathy doesn’t occur in the lower back but rather in the upper back and neck. Still, it can be treated with an epidural injection because it, like the others, occurs because of inflammation, causing the nerve to become pinched.
The best candidate for an epidural
People with chronic pain that doesn’t respond to more conservative treatments are the best candidates for epidural steroid shots. This isn’t a treatment we use on patients who have back pain but those whose pain is related to inflammation. Other types of pain will not respond to this treatment.
If you have been dealing with chronic pain that is caused by inflammation — especially one of the issues listed above — an epidural injection could help you manage your pain so that you can get back to normal activities or attend physical therapy.
Make sure you consider your needs and discuss the treatment with your provider. Not everyone will benefit from this procedure, but those who do often see fantastic improvements that allow them to regain control of their lives and seek additional treatment to aid their long-term recovery.
Get an epidural steroid shot today
Let us help you begin your recovery from chronic pain. Make an online appointment now, or call our Pleasanton or Fremont, CA, office. We’re here to help!
