05/01/2025
Hey y’all! I just started my Interventional Pain/PM&R elective rotation in Lansdowne, VA working with Dr. Anil Chenthitta. Part of being on this rotation includes reading up on different pain control procedures done in the office. The first topic is epidural injections!
Epidural steroid injections are used in cases of neck pain and mid-to-low back pain that can be caused by radiculopathies, spinal stenosis, disc herniations, arthritis, and other conditions. These injections control pain by reducing inflammation of the spinal nerves and nerve roots that come off the spinal cord.
The injection process includes an anesthetic (numbing medication) first and then a steroid. These are injected into a space between the spinal cord and bones of the spine called the epidural space. An X-ray machine is used to find the specific treatment spot and injection site. There are different approaches/locations on where to inject the needle for the most effective pain control that’s based on the patient’s case such as interlaminar, translaminar, or caudal.
These injections are usually limited to 3 injections within 1 year due to side effects of too much steroid use. After receiving the injection, the amount of pain relief can vary from person to person, but could last anywhere up to a year.
Thanks so much for reading!
