Overview
The lumbar epidural steroid injection is a highly-successful treatment for back and leg pain caused by a variety of spinal conditions. Benefits of the LESI include:
- Reduction of pain (primarily leg pain)
- Improvement in function and mobility
- Reduction in pain medication
- Reduction of inflammatory proteins (chemicals contributing to pain exacerbation)
Is it right for me?
If you are experiencing back and/or leg pain caused by one of the following conditions, a lumbar epidural steroid injection may be an option for you:
- Compression Fractures
- Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
What is the procedure like?
During this procedure a thin needle will be inserted into the epidural space of with the guidance of an X-ray (fluoroscopy). After proper placement of the needle is confirmed a corticosteroid in combination with a local anesthetic pain medication will be injected through the needle. The purpose of the corticosteroid is to minimize inflammation and swelling in the epidural space to Minimizing inflammation with take pressure off the nerves and soft tissues to provide pain relief over time.
What happens after the procedure?
The anesthetic pain medication provides immediate pain relief and flushes out inflammatory proteins that may exacerbate pain. For some individuals an Epidural Steroid Injection alone is sufficient in back pain relief, for others, Epidural Steroid Injections are used in combination with rehabilitation. Pain relief from an epidural steroid injection can range from one week to one year.