Epidural Steroid injections in North Texas

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive, pain-relieving procedure that helps to decrease neck, arm, back, and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. ESI can be used to relieve a few common back conditions, such as spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, or disc herniation. During this procedure, medication is delivered to the damaged spinal nerves through the epidural space (the area between the spinal nerves and vertebrae). The primary goal of the treatment is to decrease back pain to such an extent that daily activities can be resumed. Pain relief following ESI may last weeks or even years.

Dr. Kendall Carll of Spine Care of North Texas is a board-certified spine surgeon with more than 15 years of experience treating back pain with proven surgical and nonsurgical procedures and therapies. By prioritizing minimally invasive treatments like ESI, Dr. Carll is able to help you return to an active lifestyle without the need to undergo surgery. Contact one of our North Texas facilities for more information.

Dr. Carll can help determine if you are a candidate for ESI during a consultation and examination. It is important to keep in mind that ESI is not a cure for any condition, but instead, a means for managing your pain. Those who are most likely to benefit from ESI are patients who have attempted conservative treatments for their chronic back pain to no avail. ESI can also help treat sciatica and bulging or herniated discs. Those suffering from spinal stenosis are also candidates for this procedure. Patients suffering from spinal injuries that are the result of trauma or failed back surgery may also obtain ESI treatment to relieve their back pain.

Dr. Carll will refer you to a pain specialist to receive this injection. There are several different techniques that may be used for the ESI procedure, the most common of which is x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), typically with the patient lying on their stomach. The procedure will be performed using local anesthesia but is occasionally performed under general anesthesia. The needle will be gently guided into the epidural space, where the steroid will be injected, treating the spinal injury responsible for your pain. ESI is typically performed in under ten minutes followed by a short (15 minutes) recovery before you are sent home.

You may notice a decrease in your back pain in the first two hours following the injection if a local anesthetic is used in conjunction with the steroid. However, when the anesthetic wears off, your pain will likely return to the severity it was before. True pain relief should begin within five days of your procedure, with some patients experiencing relief before or even after this time frame. Those with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar closely following the procedure, as it could cause a spike.

After being discharged, you should plan to return home to rest for the remainder of the day. If you have pain at the injection site, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers should help. Most patients are able to return to work the next day.

Dr. Kendall Carll and his skilled support team at Spine Care of North Texas are committed to helping you achieve pain relief. Back pain is a complex condition caused by a multitude of factors that can affect everyone in a unique way. Our team is committed to diagnosing the cause of your pain and helping you achieve relief in as minimally invasive a manner as possible. If you or a loved one is suffering from back pain and ready for a solution, we encourage you to contact one of our North Texas offices today. We look forward to working with you.