What is an epidural steroid injection like?

Not bad: If you can relax and allow the person doing the procedure walk you through what he/she is doing, then it will be over before you know it. Local anesthetic is injected into the skin with a small needle and then another needle is placed into the epidural space so that anti-inflammatory drug (steroid) is placed near the site causing the nerve root irritation.

Dr Ali and another doctor agreed

Short and safe: An epidural steroid injection is a relatively quick outpatient procedure that can be done under local anesthesia and light sedation. The patient like on their stomach while the nurse applies antiseptic to the back. Under fluoroscopic imaging, the pain doctor places a needle in the epidural space. Once proper placement is confirmed with contrast dye, the steroid is injected.

Small But Real Risk: Epidural injections are typically very routine, injections done under x-ray guidance without anesthetic. However, they are not without risk (i.e. Recent meningitis outbreak). Research shows that esis are effective only for a pinched nerve from herniated disk and correlating symptoms. Absent of both these conditions, there is not proven benefit>inherent risks. Esis have become highly overutilized.

Like Any Other Inj: The worse part of an epidural injection is typically the local anesthetic administered to numb the skin. After that the needle typically feels like pressure. However as the needle enters the spinal canal or around the nerve root there can be some pain that is transient. Complications can be bleeding, infection, nerve damage and paralysis, but these are extremely rare.

Dr Rosenfeld agreed