Pain Management




Pain Management


We offer the following Pain Management services:

Epidural steroid injections include corticosteroids, which can imitate the effects of the hormones hydrocortisone and cortisone. Corticosteroids decrease the inflammation around irritated nerves, but usually on only a temporary basis.  An image-guided epidural steroid injection can be effective because it places medication directly into the epidural space inside the spine which has the inflamed nerves.

A radiologist directs the injection needle by using the assistance of X-ray fluoroscopy.  The skin area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and the epidural steroid injection usually lasts about 15 to 30 minutes.  It’s best for patients to rest for the remainder of the day and then get back to normal daily activities in the next day.

Epidural steroid injections are normally limited to a few within a given year because there is the possibility these drugs may weaken spinal bones and the nearby muscles.  Steroid injections can also suppress a body’s natural hormone balance which can lead to a serious medical condition called adrenal insufficiency.  Spacing out the repeat injections during the year allows your body to get back to its normal balance and decreases their negative impact.