When to Consider Steroid Injections for Your Herniated Disc

When a herniated disc strikes, it often causes pain, discomfort, and time off work. Depending on the severity of the herniated disc, you may not be able to move as you should or do any of your everyday activities.

Conservative treatments are often the first option for a herniated disc, including physical therapy and rest — but what if they don't work? An epidural steroid injection is often the next step in treatment that provides quick and successful pain relief.

At Consultants in Pain Medicine, Dr. Stephanie S. Jones and her team offer pain management treatments, including epidural steroid injections. Dr. Jones gets to the bottom of your back pain to provide efficient relief without surgery.

Signs of a herniated disc

The symptoms of a herniated disc are different for everyone, usually based on the location of the injury and its severity. Some people have herniated discs with little to no symptoms, while others experience excruciating pain and disability.

Most people report back pain as the first symptom of a herniated disc. The pain may come on suddenly or develop over several days to weeks. In some cases, back pain from a herniated disc resolves on its own.

Another common symptom of herniated discs is sciatic-like pain that travels from the buttocks to the legs. A herniated disc may put pressure on spinal nerves, which causes sciatica symptoms.

Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs or feet are common signs of a herniated disc, especially nerve involvement. Rarely, you can have bowel and bladder control issues, which you should address immediately to rule out a more severe problem.

The facts on steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections are a standard treatment for many types of chronic or acute back pain, including herniated discs. The injection includes a numbing agent and a potent corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory effects.

Dr. Jones uses epidural steroid injections to calm nerve symptoms that result from herniated discs and other spinal conditions. The injection aims to reduce inflammation and irritation around the injury to improve symptoms.

Epidural steroid injections are minimally invasive and are an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home afterward. You may feel immediate relief from the numbing medication, but the actual effects may take up to two weeks to feel.

During an epidural steroid injection, Dr. Jones uses live X-ray images and contrast dye to ensure she’s in the correct spot in the epidural space. She then slowly injects the steroid and numbing medicine into the area.

Can a steroid injection help?

If you’re dealing with low back pain after an injury or are having symptoms that continue to worsen, it's essential to seek treatment immediately. The longer your symptoms persist, the more difficult they may be to treat with conservative measures.

Dr. Jones may recommend physical therapy and over-the-counter medications as an initial treatment for some types of back pain — but if they don't work or your pain is more severe, she offers epidural steroid injections.

Dr. Jones discusses the pros and cons of an epidural steroid injection for a herniated disc so you can make an informed treatment decision. Ultimately, it’s a tremendous nonsurgical option for pain relief that can last months.

You should consider an epidural steroid injection for pain that persists despite conservative treatments and lifestyle modifications. It’s minimally invasive, and the risks are much less than a surgical procedure.

An epidural steroid injection is also an excellent option for radicular pain or symptoms that radiate to your legs and feet from a herniated disc.

Epidural steroid injections are a widespread treatment for herniated discs and often have excellent results. You should begin to have pain relief within several days of the injection, which can last for months, sometimes up to a year.

Call Consultants in Pain Medicine today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jones to discuss an epidural steroid injection or request an appointment on the website.