How should you prepare for epidural steroid injections for back and leg pain?

Need a ride home: This a routine prcedure with a low complication rate it will not as bad as going to the dentist.

No preparations: Needec. They are done as an outpatient procedure. If your physician is using sedation, he may want you to not eat or drink prior to the procedure. Check with his office.

Ask Your Doctor: Most doctors have a very specifice pre-operative/procedural instruction sheet for you to review and follow. If you are receiving sedation nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours before is common. Refrain from any anti-inflammatories including aspirin, advil, coumadin, (warfarin) Plavix etc. For one week before your injection to avoid risk of bleeding in the epidural space.

Nothing to it.: It's ok to take Aspirin and advil (ibuprofen) per asra guidelines. Don't go mud sliding after. On the second day your pain may actually be worse, since the steroid kicks in third day onward.

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.