Pain originating in your neck or lower back can be debilitating and difficult to treat at home. Epidural steroid injections available at Restore Health in Spokane and Richland, Washington, can relieve your pain so you can sleep better and enjoy improved mobility. To find out if you’re a good candidate for epidurals, call Restore Health, or book an appointment online today.
Epidurals FAQ’s
Epidurals are injections that the Restore Health team places into the epidural space of your spinal canal using fluoroscopy guidance. These injections typically contain steroids, which are a category of drug that helps to relieve inflammation. They can also contain various anesthetic or numbing medications for fast-acting pain relief.
The Restore Health team specializes in two types of spinal epidurals that differ in their targeted location:
Cervical transforaminal steroid injections
Cervical transforaminal steroid injections are a treatment for pain originating in your neck or cervical spine. Such pain can come from herniated cervical discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or spinal nerve root diseases.
Lumbar epidural injections
Lumbar epidural steroid injections are a treatment for pain originating in your lumbar spine or lower back. More specifically, they can treat pain caused by herniated lumbar discs, arthritis, bone fractures, and other conditions causing pain or nerve irritation.
When you come in for your epidural at Restore Health, you change into a gown so that your provider has easy access to your back or neck. They may ask that you sit up, lay on your side, or lay on your stomach, depending on the source of your pain.
Right before the injection, your provider sterilizes the area and gives you anesthesia to numb the area. You may also have the option to take a medication to help you relax throughout the procedure.
Using a special type of X-ray called a fluoroscope, they insert the needle and carefully guide it into the epidural space around your spine. They inject a contrast dye to ensure the needle is in the right place before injecting the steroid.
You might feel a bit of discomfort or pressure near the injection site once your anesthesia wears off, but you can go about your day after a brief monitoring period in the office.
Preparing for an epidural is simple, with an easy-to-follow set of instructions from the Restore Health team. After an initial physical exam and consultation, they may suggest that you:
- Stop taking or adjust your blood-thinning medications
- Arrange a ride home for the day of your epidural
- Avoid eating and drinking for four hours before the epidural
The team also helps you prepare for recovery. You should take the rest of the day off work, but you can safely resume your daily errands and activities the next day.
To learn more about epidurals for pain originating in the spine, call Restore Health, or book a consultation online today.