Treatments on HBG Panel

What are Steroid Injections for Spine Treatment?

A minimally invasive procedure involving the epidural steroid injection (ESI) can relieve neck, back, arms, and leg pain induced by inflamed spinal nerves caused by spinal stenosis or disc herniation. The epidural space between the bone and the protective sac of the spinal nerves is supplied by medicine. The aim is to decrease pain in order to enable the patient to restart ordinary work. Steroid injections include both an anesthetic and a corticosteroid. These medicines are supplied to the epidural space of the spine, which lies between the bony vertebra and the protective dura sac around the spinal nerves. Injections of corticosteroids can decrease inflammation and can be efficient when transmitted to the painful region directly.

What are the symptoms leading to the doctor’s recommendation – Steroid injections for Spine Treatment?

• Arm or leg pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness

Evaluations for Spine Treatment

• X-rays
• CT scan
• MRI
• Myelogram
• Electromyograms

Steroid injections for Spine Treatment

The aim is to inject the medicine as closely as possible to the painful nerve. The sort of injection varies depending on the situation and if metal rods or prior surgery screws are present. The patient is at the table of X-rays. Using a fluoroscope of the X-ray, a hollow needle passes through the skin and into the epidural space between the bony vertebrae. Fluoroscopy enables the doctor to see the needle in the x-ray monitor in real-time, to ensure that the needle goes to the specified place.

There is a number of ESI types:

• Cervical ESI – The needle enters the neural foramen from the side of the neck, just above the nerve root opening and outside of the epidural space. Contrast dye is injected to verify the flow of the drug.
• Lumbar ESI – The needle entry site is located a little off of the back to the nerve canal. Contrast dye is added to verify the flow of the medication.
• Caudal ESI – The needle is positioned above the tailbone in the sacral hiatus to reach the lowest spinal nerves. Contrast dye is injected to verify the flow of the drug.

The anesthetic and corticosteroid medicines are injected into the epidural space around the origins of the nerves when the needle is properly placed. Then the needle is removed. The procedure can be performed on the left and right sides, depending on the area of the pain. The injection may take one or multiple spinal levels.

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