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Do you suffer from lower back or leg pain? Have the painkillers that you take stopped easing the pain? Have you resigned yourself to the fact that you may never be able to enjoy performing everyday activities again? If the answer to any of those questions is YES, then it’s high time you saw a pain management doctor. Instead of living a life full of frustration from a constant feeling of discomfort, you should seek help.
There are multiple treatments for back and leg pain that your physician may offer you, depending on the severity of your condition and the source of your pain. In today’s article, our pain management doctor in Pembroke Pines will reveal one of the possible treatments that may help you get back on your feet.
If you have never heard of epidural injections before, we will start with a definition. They are corticosteroid shots that are injected around the spinal cord and a popular non-surgical way of dealing with back pain. Even though they bring immediate relief by reducing inflammation, swelling, and alleviating the pain, epidural injections often need to be accompanied by a comprehensive rehabilitation program to achieve maximum benefits. Our pain management doctor in Pembroke Pines recommends an epidural steroid injection to all patients who are suffering from a degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
The location of administration of the epidural injection depends on the injured or damaged area of your body. Generally, it is one of these four areas of the spine:
Cervical – treats neck, shoulder and arm pain
Thoracic – treats pain along the ribs and in the abdomen
Lumbar – treats lower back, hip, buttock and leg pain
Caudal – treats any pain in the lowest segments of the lumbosacral spine
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. To ensure correct placement of the needle, an X-ray or ultrasound is used. The needle passes through the skin, tissues, and spinal ligaments right into the epidural space. You should always inform the staff if you feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure in order for them to administer more local anesthetic. After the injection, patients are moved to a unit where they can rest; once they’re able to stand up and walk freely, they are released. It’s wise to ask a family member or a friend to drive you home from the hospital.
Among the most common side effects are soreness or mild pain in the area where the shot was given. Apart from that, patients sometimes experience nausea and vomiting; bleeding and infections are very rare. Nevertheless, our pain management doctor in Pembroke Pines emphasizes the importance of a follow-up appointment about 6-8 weeks after the procedure to check the body’s response and recovery.
Often patients feel relief about two to three days after the epidural injection. However, for some patients it will take longer, or a second injection may be necessary to see results. Once the injection begins working, it may ease the pain from several days to a year.
If you are experiencing back pain that interferes with your everyday routine and doesn’t allow you to live life to the fullest, don’t waste any more of your precious time and contact us today! Our pain management doctor in Pembroke Pines will examine you, determine the source of your pain, and offer you a personalized treatment. Life is beautiful; don’t let the pain ruin it!
