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Lumbar Epidural Relief
Target Lower Back Pain Near You in New Jersey
Lumbar radiculopathy causes painful symptoms that invade every area of life. Fortunately, surgery is not always required to experience relief. Kurdali Spine & Pain provides lumbar epidural steroid injections at locations near you in New Jersey, helping patients relieve lumbar radiculopathy and sciatica symptoms without an invasive procedure. Get in touch with Dr. Basil Kurdali to start your recovery journey.
Key Takeaways
- Lumbar epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a minimally invasive treatment that involves injecting anti-inflammatory medication into the space surrounding the spine.
- Lumbar ESIs provide temporary relief for sciatica symptoms, including burning pain, shooting pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and incontinence.
- Lumbar ESIs are used to treat spine conditions, including degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spinal arthritis, and failed back surgery syndrome.
- Kurdali Spine & Pain provides non-surgical relief for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain, offering same-day treatment for patients in New Jersey.
What Are Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?
Lumbar epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a minimally invasive treatment for pain that originates in the lower back. They provide temporary pain relief that lasts for a few months at a time, allowing patients to reduce their medication reliance and focus on their lives without pain.
During the procedure, with medical imaging guidance, Dr. Kurdali uses a thin needle to inject corticosteroid medication into the epidural space around the spine. The epidural space is a protective sleeve of fat, blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves surrounding the spine. The steroid mimics cortisol, a hormone naturally found in the body, to reduce inflammation. This reduces impingement (pinching) on the spinal nerve roots, relieving pain.
What Symptoms Are Treated with Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?
ESIs are primarily used to treat lumbar radiculopathy. Radiculopathy occurs when root nerves become impinged (pinched). Lumbar radiculopathy is an inflammation of a nerve root in the lower back, which causes symptoms of pain or irritation in the back and down the legs. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, this condition is known as sciatica.
Root nerves connect the spinal cord with the rest of the body, letting them exchange information about senses, movement, and more. When a root nerve is pinched, the flow of information is interrupted. This causes a variety of symptoms, including:
- Lower back pain
- Burning or electric pain that shoots down one leg
- Pain that gets worse when coughing, sneezing, or bending over
- Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations in one or both legs
- Muscle weakness in one or both legs
- Numbness in one or both legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence)
Injections are the number one treatment for managing lumbar radicular pain. By reducing inflammation, ESIs reduce pressure around the nerve to eliminate irritation. This effectively addresses symptoms to provide lasting relief.
What Conditions Are Treated with Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?
Lumbar radiculopathy and sciatica have several possible causes. Any condition that creates pressure on a spinal root nerve may be responsible for radiculopathy. Common causes include:
Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar degenerative disc disease occurs when spinal discs in the lower back begin to wear down. Spinal discs are pads of tissue between vertebrae that provide cushioning for the spine. Over time, discs become dehydrated. The dehydrated discs are thinner than normal, reducing separation between vertebrae and reducing space around the nerve root.
Lumbar Herniated Disc
A lumbar herniated disc is also called a slipped, bulging, or ruptured disc. It occurs when the firm outer layer (annulus fibrosus) of a spinal disc becomes damaged, allowing its soft, gel-like center (nucleus pulposus) to push through a crack. The leaking material may press against a nearby spinal nerve, resulting in radicular pain and other symptoms.
Lumbar Arthritis
Lumbar arthritis is caused by lifelong wear and tear to the bones of the lower back. Over time, this wears down the cartilage in spinal joints, allowing the bones to rub together painfully. Bones often develop bone spurs as a reaction to rubbing. These abnormal growths may intrude into the spinal canal or into the openings where nerves exit the spine.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) refers to pain that continues or returns after a spine surgery. For some patients, back surgery does not provide effective pain relief, or it may even make the pain worse. In others, continued degeneration may cause the pain to come back months or years after surgery. Sciatica is a common consequence of FBSS.
Preparing for Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
Before providing lumbar epidural steroid injections, Dr. Kurdali will perform a thorough physical examination to assess the patient’s spine, check its range of movement, and learn more about their symptoms. He will also request magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray imaging scans when necessary. The tests help to confirm that the diagnosis is correct, ensuring that lumbar ESIs are the appropriate treatment. They also help Dr. Kurdali locate the origin point of the pain.
Lumbar ESIs do not require much preparation and are often performed immediately after diagnosis. Patients should be sure to ask questions and discuss any concerns with Dr. Kurdali to feel confident about their care. Concerns to discuss include allergies to contrast dyes, medications, including blood thinners, and medical conditions, such as diabetes.
What to Expect from Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
Lumbar epidural steroid injections are performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning they don’t require anesthesia or a hospital stay. Patients may be asked to put on a hospital gown to make the injections easier. Once the patient has changed, they lie down on a comfortable table while Dr. Kurdali performs the following steps:
- Dr. Kurdali thoroughly cleans the skin over the lower back.
- He may inject a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. This reduces discomfort when inserting the epidural needle, which is larger than a standard needle.
- Using X-ray guidance, Dr. Kurdali carefully guides the epidural into position.
- Dr. Kurdali injects a small amount of contrast dye into the back. The dye shows up clearly on X-ray imaging and helps him confirm that the needle tip is placed correctly.
- He slowly injects a mixture of corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. The patient may feel pressure, tingling, a burning sensation, or nothing.
- He removes the needle and applies gentle pressure to the site to reduce bleeding.
- Finally, he cleans the site again and covers it with a dressing.
The whole procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Afterward, patients move to a chair or bed to rest for a short time. This rest period lets Dr. Kurdali and his team monitor the patient for any negative reactions to the medication. Once Dr. Kurdali is confident that it is safe, the patient is cleared to go home. Patients can go back to their normal activities immediately afterward.
Lumbar ESI Results and Recovery Timeline
Most patients feel relief immediately after receiving lumbar epidural steroid injections. This relief is from the local anesthetic used to numb the back while performing the ESI procedure. It typically wears off in a few hours to a day after the treatment. This is normal and does not mean that the ESI did not work. Pain relief from the ESI itself may take one to seven days to kick in. Once it does, patients feel significant relief from back pain and a reduction of sciatica symptoms.
How long the effects of a lumbar ESI last can vary between patients, but most individuals feel relief for a few months or even longer. When the pain returns, patients can speak with Dr. Kurdali about repeating the injections. Dr. Kurdali will develop a personalized schedule to repeat lumbar ESIs as frequently as necessary to provide long-term pain reduction.
What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Lumbar ESIs?
Epidural steroid injections are generally safe and do not cause problems. Very rarely, they may cause short-term side effects that include:
- “Steroid flush,” or redness and warmth of the face and chest
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
- Anxiety or aggravation
- An increase in pain for several days after the procedure
- In women, changes in the menstrual cycle
These side effects should go away within one to seven days. If side effects last longer or if the patient experiences symptoms that are not described here, they should contact Dr. Kurdali. The following symptoms are signs of an allergic reaction to corticosteroids:
- A high fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble concentrating
- Dizziness
Patients should also talk to Dr. Kurdali if they do not experience any relief from their injection. Lack of relief may indicate that the pain is caused by something other than the spinal nerves or that there are multiple concurrent causes of the patient’s pain. In either situation, further testing may be necessary to adjust the patient’s treatment plan appropriately.
ESI Aftercare and Rehabilitation
Lumbar epidural steroid injections provide only temporary pain relief. They do not directly address the cause of pain, meaning the pain will eventually return. For longer-lasting relief, Dr. Kurdali often recommends a form of rehabilitative care:
- Physical therapy: This approach uses targeted exercises to improve strength and mobility. Stronger muscles provide better support for the spine, reducing nerve compression.
- Chiropractic care: This approach uses precise spinal realignments to remove pressure from root nerves. It may provide mechanical benefits to supplement relief from ESIs.
These treatments take advantage of the short-term relief provided by ESIs to improve spine mechanics and address the cause of pain more directly. The combined approach provides superior symptom management in the long term, leading to more satisfactory outcomes.
Why Choose Kurdali Spine & Pain?
Sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy symptoms can be life changing. Fortunately, pain can be managed with prompt and appropriate treatment. Kurdali Spine & Pain is led by Dr. Basil Kurdali, a board-certified pain management doctor. He draws upon his fellowship training and extensive experience to diagnose and treat pain with accuracy and effectiveness. He emphasizes non-surgical treatments, delivering relief without invasive procedures and long recovery times.
Dr. Kurdali also understands that people who are in pain don’t want to wait for answers. This is why Kurdali Spine & Pain strives to eliminate delays. On their initial visit, patients receive a same-day diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Kurdali ensures that patients go home with less pain than they had on arrival, while also having a long-term management plan.
Get Lower Back Pain Relief Near You in New Jersey
If you are struggling with lower back pain or symptoms of sciatica, do not wait to find relief. Kurdali Spine & Pain provides a full range of non-surgical relief options for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain. Contact us today to learn more about lumbar epidural steroid injections and other services we have available, or to schedule your first appointment at one of our locations near you in New Jersey.
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection FAQ
When can I return to work, driving, and exercise after a lumbar epidural steroid injection?
Patients can return to work, driving, and exercise immediately after receiving a lumbar ESI.
When are side effects after a lumbar epidural steroid injection concerning?
Patients should contact a doctor if they experience a fever, nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, or dizziness after receiving lumbar ESIs.
What insurance does Kurdali Spine & Pain accept?
Kurdali Spine & Pain works with all major insurance carriers, including Medicare. During your visit, we will discuss your coverage and benefits with you to help you understand what options you have.
