Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroids injections have been safely and effectively used in the treatment of chronic neck and back pain for the last 40 years. Back and neck pain are usually treated conservatively with bed rest, physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, back exercises.​

A majority of patients will improve on this regimen. However, when conservative therapy fails, adding epidural steroid injections to the treatment plan are an effective next step in treatment. This is a core scope of practice at Arizona Pain Treatment Centers.

Epidural steroid injections work by several mechanisms. They break the cycle of pain, followed by muscle spasm, followed by more pain which occurs in this disease. Pain relief afforded by epidural steroids may allow a larger and more pain free range of motion. This increases the effectiveness of physical therapy in preserving muscle strength and range of motion. By administering a low dose, long acting medication, and epidural steroids can effectively deliver the anti-inflammatory effect directly to the site of injury. This reduces the dose of medication necessary as well as increases its effectiveness. 

Epidural steroids are effective in the treatment of discogenic pain (bulging or herniated discs) in the back and in the neck. Epidural injections can be used to treat other problems such as sciatica, spinal stenosis, cervicogenic headache, failed back surgery syndrome and pinched nerves among other problems.

Common conditions can be treated with epidural steroid injections include:

• Degenerative disc disease

• Herniated discs

• Sciatica