28 Jul Is an Epidural Injection Right for Your Herniated Disc?
Back pain from a herniated disc can make simple tasks hard. Sitting, lifting, or even getting out of bed may cause sharp or burning pain. If basic care is not helping, an epidural steroid injection could be the next step. This treatment delivers medicine to the area around your spine to calm swelling and ease nerve pain.
What is an epidural steroid injection?
An epidural steroid injection places a small amount of anti-inflammatory medicine and a numbing agent into the epidural space, which is the area around your spinal nerves. The goal is to reduce inflammation so the pinched nerve can settle down. When swelling goes down, pain, tingling, and numbness often improve.
Want a deeper walkthrough of the visit and recovery? Read our step-by-step guide here.
How can it help a herniated disc?
A herniated disc can press on a nearby nerve. This may cause pain that travels into your arm or leg, often called sciatica when it affects the leg. The steroid in the injection targets the swollen tissue around the nerve root. With less swelling, the nerve has more room, which can lower pain and help you move better.
For a broader look at injection choices, explore: Types of Spinal Injections for Back Pain Relief
Who is a good candidate?
You may be a candidate if you have:
- Shooting pain in an arm or leg
- Numbness or tingling linked to a herniated disc
- Pain that has lasted more than a few weeks
- Trouble joining physical therapy because of severe pain
A spine specialist will review your history, examine you, and may order an MRI or X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.
What to expect on procedure day
- You will lie on a table. The skin is cleaned and numbed.
- Your doctor uses a live X-ray or ultrasound to guide a thin needle to the epidural space.
- A small amount of a steroid and numbing medicine is injected.
- You rest for a short time, then go home the same day.
Most people feel some relief within a few days. Many notice the biggest change between 48 hours and one week. Pain relief can last weeks to months. If the first shot helps, your doctor may discuss a short series.
Benefits and possible risks
Benefits
- Targets the painful area directly
- Can reduce pain so you can start or progress physical therapy
- May help you avoid or delay surgery
Possible risks
- Temporary soreness, numbness, or headache
- A short-term rise in blood sugar for some people
- Rare risks include infection or bleeding
Your care team uses sterile technique and imaging guidance to keep risks low.
When should you consider other options?
If your pain improves only a little or returns, your doctor may suggest other treatments, such as a selective nerve root block or radiofrequency ablation for joint-related pain. If you have red-flag symptoms like loss of bladder or bowel control, new severe weakness, or fever with back pain, seek urgent care.
Epidural steroid injections can be an effective, non-surgical option for herniated disc pain. They reduce inflammation around the nerve, which can lower pain and help you move more comfortably. The best way to know if this treatment is right for you is to meet with a spine specialist who can review your goals and create a plan that fits your life.
Ready to talk about relief? Schedule a consultation today and take your next step toward feeling better.