Epidural steroid injections use numbing agents and strong anti-inflammatory medicines to control back pain, allowing patients to move comfortably and return to their regular routines faster. Back pain can make everyday activities painful and difficult, especially when the pain extends to your legs and other parts of the body. ESIs are becoming more and more popular for treating sciatica, lumbar spinal stenosis, other spinal conditions, and some pain in the arms and legs.
Our specialists at California Orthopedics & Spine are experts at diagnosing spinal conditions and helping patients find nonoperative treatment options like epidural steroid injections. Injections may be a part of a larger treatment plan that includes physical therapy, medication management, or other treatments to improve the condition of your spine. Contact our office in Novato, CA, to learn more or schedule a consultation today.
How do ESIs work?
Sciatica and lumbar spinal stenosis are conditions that cause pain (or tingling and other sensations) in the lower back, buttocks, and legs. The pain usually radiates across nerves that extend from the lower back into the legs. This occurs because of excess pressure and inflammation around the roots of the nerves. When spinal bones and joints deteriorate, they can start to squeeze together or rub the wrong way, irritating the roots of these important nerves around the lower spine.
Epidural steroid injections work by reducing swelling and inflammation around the spine, which relieves pressure around the irritated nerves. The medicines in the injection also help block pain signals, which can provide relief for patients with severe pain. The effects of the injection are usually temporary, but this reduction in pain may make it easier for patients to finish other treatments, such as exercise plans to help relieve pressure on the lower back.
Epidural Steroid Injections in Marin County, CA
At California Orthopedics & Spine, we have physiatrists, surgeons, physician assistants, and sports medicine specialists on site to help you find the most effective and least invasive treatment available. We understand how limiting it can be to deal with back pain, sciatica, and other conditions, and our staff is here to help you find a treatment plan that works for you. Our goal is always to help you live your most active life. To learn more about injections and the other minimally invasive treatment options we offer, give our office a call. One of our staff members will be happy to help you.