Epidural steroid injections for a pinched nerve?
im a male who is going into an outpatient surgey this upcoming week and will be having an epidural steroid injection done. just wondering what to expect procedure time, healing time, pain scale etc. just basic info so im fully educated before i go in. thanks.
epidural steroid injection cost?
Epidural steroid injection costs vary by who is doing them, the facility in which they are done, and how much your insurance covers. If you don't have insurance, negotiate a discounted rate up front. It usually takes a series of at least 3 injections to get meaningful relief. It is common for the pain to be WORSE for a day or two, and then get better. If the injections work, it may eliminate the need for surgery, or delay it for a while. Epidural steroids work by reducing inflammation of the nerves. If you have a mechanical problem, like compression from a herniated disc or narrowing of the holes where the nerves exit the spine, it might not do much for you. If the inflammation related to those problems is what is causing the pain, it can help a lot. It's worth trying, because they do work well in some patients, and are a heck of a lot easier than back surgery.
How long for steriod injection to start working for lower back and leg pain?
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) can take up to 3 days (sometimes a week) for you to begin to feel relief, if you do at all. The initial injection puts more fluid into an area already inflamed and so usually increases pain for about 2 days which then subsides to either significant relief or your prior level of pain. These injections don't work for everyone, and when they do they can provide relief for 2 weeks up to a couple of months. If this period is long enough for your body to heal the injury then you won't notice symptoms return. If your body does not heal then something else should be done because steroids actually damage joints in a way that cannot be healed when used long term. Epidural Corticosteroid InjectionsLittle benefit from corticosteroid injections for common cause of spine-related painLumbar Epidural Steroid Injections for Low Back Pain and SciaticaEpidural Steroid Injection Pain Relief Success Rates