Epidural steroid injection

The  rationale for the use of epidural  corticosteroid injection has  improved with the evidence of  an  inflammatory basis for  radicular pain  from disc heriation. Epidural  steroids have been  shown to be effective in pain reduction in the patient with radicular pain. The efficacy us uncreased  if used in the first weeks following  onset.The goal of these  injection is to facilitate an active  exercise program and to progress patients through the pain and inflammation stage of recovery as quickly as possible. As with all injections, It is part of  a comprehesive rehabilitation plan involving  active exercise.

Some patients may require more than one injection.Repeat injections should be based on pretreatment goals and the therapeutic response following the  injection. It is not nesessary for  most  patients to undergo a set of number or  series  of injections.If  minimal to no improvement is  found after two injections, then  further similar injections are not warranted. The most  recent  use of  a transforminal approach allows the medication to be delivered in a more targeted fashion to  the  more ventral aspect of the spinal cord at the level of the presumed site of pathology. All patient should be followed  after  injections ( 10-14 days after) to assess therapeutic  response.