Exam time: 30 minutes
Most exams require the patient to remain at our facility 30 minutes after the procedure.
Epidural steroid injections provide diagnostic data and pain relief by delivering medications onto the surface of the spinal column. This procedure addresses inflammation--which may result in short- or long-term pain relief--and provides valuable information on the source of the patient's pain.
Patients will be awake throughout the test. A radiologist will position a thin needle in the patient's epidural space. The contrast material will then be injected using X-Ray or fluorocopy guidance. The medications will be injected next, which may create a pressure sensation in the lower back and/or lower extremities.
PREPARATION/RESTRICTIONS:
- Stop blood thinners 4 days in advance; stop pain medication 8 hours in advance.
- The patient should bring along any previous imaging studies on film or cd related to the body part being treated.
- The patient will need a driver.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Side effects of the steroid medications--which affect only 5% of patients and disappear within 1-3 days--include facial flushing, insomnia, occasional low-grade fever, and an increase in blood sugar. Patients may also experience numbness in the lower extremities after the procedure.
Due to the effects of certain medications, the patient's driving reflexes may be impaired. He or she should arrange in advance for a driver or request assistance from our facility.