Epidural Steroid Injections Specialist

Epidural steroid injections are a gold-standard treatment for back pain and radiating pain from spinal problems. At Evolution Pain and Spine in League City and Lake Jackson, Texas, Sunil Thomas, MD, a double board-certified interventional pain management and physical medicine specialist, provides epidural steroid injections to relieve back pain, sciatica, and other painful conditions. Call Evolution Pain and Spine or schedule a consultation online today if back pain is interfering with your life.

Epidural Steroid Injections Q&A

Your epidural space is the part of your spinal column that surrounds your spinal cord. It contains fatty tissue, blood vessels, spinal nerve roots, and lymphatics. There is very little extra space in your spinal column, and any inflammation can cause nerve compression and pain.

An epidural steroid injection delivers a potent anti-inflammatory into this space, which reduces your pain and other symptoms.

Dr. Thomas at Evolution Pain and Spine often combines epidural steroid injections with physical therapy as the injections provide enough relief for you to address the underlying issue that led to the inflammation in the first place.

Several conditions lead to inflammation in your spinal column. For example, Dr. Thomas might recommend an epidural steroid injection in treatment plans for:

  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Bone spurs
  • Thickened ligaments
  • Cysts
  • Abnormal vertebrae alignment

Epidural steroid injections relieve back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and other radiating symptoms, including pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your feet, legs, hands, and arms.

Epidural spinal injections are minimally invasive outpatient procedures. Dr. Thomas provides a local anesthetic to your injection site to reduce any discomfort.

Then, while you lie on an X-ray table, he uses fluoroscopy to guide a needle into the epidural space, getting as close to the painful nerve as possible. When the needle is in the correct location, he injects the steroid into your spine.

Dr. Thomas can provide an epidural steroid injection anywhere in your spine, although they’re most often delivered to your cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower) spine.

After your injection, you should be able to get up and walk around right away. You can return to your regular activities the next day. You should arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home.

The medication needs a little time to take effect, but you should start to notice a difference within a few days. Dr. Thomas might recommend that you keep a diary to track your pain in the days and weeks following your injection.

Some patients need a few epidural spinal injections to achieve maximum relief. Dr. Thomas provides customized treatment plans to address your individual needs and explains your treatment plan in detail.

If you have chronic pain in your neck, back or limbs, call Evolution Pain and Spine or make an appointment online today to find out how epidural steroid injections can relieve your pain.

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