Living with persistent back pain or the debilitating discomfort of sciatica can significantly impact your daily life. When conservative pain management methods like rest, physical therapy, and medication haven't provided sufficient relief, your doctor might suggest exploring other treatment options like epidural steroid injections (ESIs).
What are Epidural Steroid Injections?
An epidural steroid injection is a medical procedure involving the precise delivery of medication into the epidural space, which is the area surrounding your spinal cord and nerves. The primary components of ESIs are corticosteroids—powerful anti-inflammatory drugs—often combined with a local anaesthetic.
Once administered, the corticosteroids reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves resulting in back and leg pain relief. The local anaesthetic offers immediate, though temporary, pain relief, creating a window of time for the corticosteroids to take effect. A review has found that ESIs are generally safe and effective for short-term pain relief.
It's crucial to understand both the potential benefits and side effects of ESIs. While generally safe, minor side effects can include temporary soreness at the injection site, headache, or flushing. Serious complications are rare but will be discussed during your consultation with a pain specialist in Singapore.
How Can Epidural Steroid Injections Help with Sciatica?
Epidural steroid injections are generally good pain relief treatments for conditions like sciatica, spinal stenosis, and disc herniation which cause inflammation or compression of spinal nerves. They are not typically used for generalised muscle pain. The success rate of ESIs generally varies depending on the underlying condition and individual patient response, but many report significant pain relief that can last for weeks to months.
Studies have highlighted the effectiveness of epidural steroid injections in improving pain and function in sciatica patients. This enables patients to engage more effectively in physical therapy or other rehabilitative efforts, supporting their overall treatment plan and outcomes.
Epidural Steroid Injections vs. Surgery for Sciatica
Epidural steroid injections are typically considered for managing persistent sciatica symptoms when other non-invasive treatments have failed. They may provide some individuals with sufficient nerve pain relief to potentially avoid or postpone surgical intervention. However, surgery to physically decompress the nerve may offer more long-lasting pain relief.
Are Epidural Steroid Injections Right for You?
Determining if steroid injections are the appropriate treatment for your back or nerve pain requires a comprehensive evaluation by a specialist. They will consider certain factors when recommending a pain management plan, such as:
- Severity of symptoms
- Duration of symptoms
- Specific cause of nerve compression (as seen on MRI, X-rays, or other imaging)
- Medical history and any prior treatments undergone
- Patient’s overall health and preferences
What to Expect During and After an Epidural Steroid Injection
At The Pain Clinic in Singapore, we perform epidural steroid injections for sciatica or back pain with the utmost precision and care.
The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting. You will be positioned comfortably and a local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin at the injection site. Using fluoroscopy (live X-ray guidance) or ultrasound, our specialist will carefully guide a thin needle to the exact epidural space near the affected nerve to ensure accurate placement of the medication. The procedure itself is relatively quick, often taking only about 15-30 minutes.
After the procedure, you will be monitored for a short period. It's common to experience some temporary soreness or numbness at the injection site. You can typically resume light activities the same day, but strenuous activities should be avoided for a short period as advised by your doctor. The pain relief may not be immediate as it often takes a few days for the corticosteroids to take full effect. =
Follow-up appointments are vital to monitor your progress and adjust your comprehensive pain management plan as needed. If you're struggling with persistent back pain or sciatica, we encourage you to explore your options with our sciatica pain specialists in Singapore.
Contact The Pain Clinic today to book a consultation and discover if an ESI is a suitable path towards your pain relief.