Back injuries from sports may occur from overuse, improper form, sudden movements, or muscle strain. Epidural steroid injections are used to help ease back and leg pain by reducing inflammation and swelling. A back doctor from Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics can perform a variety of injection options for sports-related injuries. Here is more about this type of treatment to know if this is the right option for you:
Understanding Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections, or ESIs, deliver anti-inflammatory steroids to relieve neck, back, shoulder, or arm pain. Herniated discs and other spinal issues compress nerves, causing inflammation. Steroids are one of the strongest anti-inflammatory medications and work relatively quickly. An ESI aims to restore mobility quickly with little to no down time. Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics offers consultations for epidural steroid injections to discuss the treatment and see if it will work for your condition. Consultations and injections can often be done on the same day in a quiet, professional office atmosphere.
Benefits of Injections
Image-guided injections target inflamed nerves with precision to deliver medication directly to the root of the problem. Injections are the next best step when oral medications and physical therapy fail to provide relief. Lumbar disc herniations, sciatica, or lumbar spinal stenosis are some conditions for which an ESI may help. Epidural steroid injections are a great option for those looking to avoid invasive surgery or as an option to provide relief before surgery. When done with experienced hands, they are very safe and highly effective.
How Injections Work
ESIs are usually performed in an outpatient setting under x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy). The patient will lie on their stomach. Sometimes, the patient might be prescribed some medicine to help you relax. First, the skin overlying the spinal structures is numbed with a local anesthetic. Then the back doctor inserts a needle into the epidural space around the inflamed nerve. Once the needle is in the right place, the medicine is injected. This bathes the affected area to treat the inflammation. More than one injection may be used if the patient has multiple affected nerves. The procedure usually lasts only a few minutes, and many patients can return to work on the same day. Athletes can often return to sports very quickly.
After the procedure, the patient is watched for a short time and then sent home. There are usually few side effects, but there can be temporary soreness at the injection site. In some cases, patients might feel immediate relief. Other times, it can take a couple of days for the treatment to take effect.
Depending on the sports injury, one injection might be all the patient needs for recovery. Multiple treatments may be necessary for older or more severe injuries. The injections provide a nice window of opportunity for patient to focus on exercise and lifestyle changes. Dr. Carter at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics has years of experience performing spinal injections and will help create a personalized treatment plan depending on your condition.
Epidural Steroid Injections From a Back Doctor
A back doctor may recommend an epidural steroid injection when you experience back pain that is difficult to treat, is particularly intense, and has not improved from other treatment options. These injections can treat pain from sports, like stress on the spine or injured discs. Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics specializes in spine care, including ESIs. Learn more about our services and schedule a consultation today to see if an epidural steroid injection can help your back injury.