Epidural Injections
Epidural Injections for Back Pain
Epidural steroid injections have been a treatment for back pain since 1951. This long-time remedy provides lasting relief for patients with severe pain in their neck (cervical region), upper back (thoracic region), or low back (lumbar region), including nerve pain, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs. Dr. Ai Mukai can perform epidural injections and answer any questions you may have at Texas Orthopedics in Austin.
What Results Can I Expect?
The goal of this treatment is to significantly reduce your pain without the need for surgery; however, not all patients have the same response to an epidural injection. While many patients do find relief from pain after an epidural injection, some patients do not. Multiple injections may be required for some patients to achieve a significant reduction in pain. It is considered safe to do up to 3 injections in a year.
How Do They Work?
Epidural injections are done with X-ray guidance, or fluoroscopy, to deliver the medication to the desired location. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Numbing medication is first applied to the injection site. Once the needle is in place, the procedure is relatively short and painless. Some patients may experience some pain after the injection while others get temporary relief from the numbing medicine. A special type of epidural injection called caudal epidural steroid injection can be done in-office with ultrasound guidance for pinched nerves in specific areas of the lower spine.
Learn more about epidural injection and other pain management procedures in our patient library. Also, you may print out Dr. Mukai’s handouts below for more details.
An epidural injection could provide the long-term pain relief you’ve been looking for. Call Dr. Ai Mukai in Austin, Texas to learn more. Make an appointment now by calling (512) 485-0514 or using our online appointment request form.
