Epidural steroid injections are often used to treat low back pain and leg pain. The epidural steroid injections are not permanent fixes, but they can last from one week up to one year and they are a great way to manage pain especially for those who suffer from episodes of severe pain or those that need pain management to get through a rehabilitation program.

Epidural steroid injections refer to the injection of steroids into epidural space in the spine which is the space between the dura mater and the vertebral wall. The steroids used in the epidural steroid injections are often corticosteroids and they are often successful in reducing inflammation, and therefore pain. Epidural steroid injections can be so successful because the medication is administered direction to the site of the problem.

There are several instances when epidural steroid injections are recommended over other treatments. Epidural steroid injections are useful for people going through rehabilitation to help them manage pain through this process. People who suffer from chronic back and leg pain might also choose an epidural steroid injection over a surgical procedure.

Epidural steroid injections are rather quick procedures. The first step is numbing the area of the epidural steroid injection with a local anesthetic. Then the physician administers the epidural steroid injection. Once the needle is in place, the epidural steroid injection takes place as the steroid is injected. Epidural steroid injection is an outpatient procedure.

Epidural steroid injections have the benefit of reduced pain (even if temporary) approximately 50% of the time. Most physicians are comfortable performing epidural steroid injections up to three times a year. Sometimes the epidural steroid injections are done in a series of three, but it is not required to do all three if relief is felt after one or two of the epidural steroid injections.