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An epidural injection is a procedure that involves the administration of anesthetics and analgesics through your lower back to alleviate pain. This type of injection is used for people experiencing chronic or severe back, leg, or arm pain that does not respond to other treatments. New Jersey Epidural Injections are safe when performed by an experienced and well-trained healthcare provider in New Jersey. They can do it with local anesthesia numbing medicine, but some patients may need general anesthesia to put them to sleep.
What is an Epidural Injection?
An epidural injection is an injection of medication to numb the nerves at the site of your back. It is used to relieve pain during childbirth, but it is also sometimes used to treat chronic back or neck pain. The procedure usually takes about thirty minutes and can offer significant relief from chronic pain if administered correctly.
The injection is given in two doses, with each dose being one to three milliliters (mL) and injected into the space outside the spinal cord that contains nerve roots. Epidurals are made of local anesthetics such as lidocaine or bupivacaine and may also use other medications depending on what symptoms you’re experiencing and how severe they are.
What are the benefits of an epidural injection?
- An epidural injection is often used after surgery on your spine to reduce post-operative pain and speed recovery time.
- It helps relieve severe lower back and leg pain, but it may not effectively relieve other types of chronic pain.
- It can help you get more restful sleep, which may enable your brain to heal faster from a recent injury or decrease the risk of developing chronic pain due to an injury.
What risks are associated with epidural injection?
People with these conditions: history of cancer in the past five years, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, or blood pressure problems, such as uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac disease, low platelet counts may be at higher risk for developing serious problems such as epidural hematoma (blood clot) or abscesses around the injection site.
Another possible risk associated with epidural injections is potential damage to nerves in the lower back if a catheter is inserted too deeply into the spine. The person performing the procedure may not know how deep they need to go to get into that area of your spine without causing any long-term nerve damage or other issues.
Epidurals are not good if you’re experiencing symptoms that indicate a blood vessel disorder, including
- Severe headaches with nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Loss of vision in one eye
- Difficulty speaking and understanding words
- Difficulty with balance
- Weakness
- Clumsiness in one side of your body
How many epidural injections can you have in a year?
It depends on the severity of your pain and how frequently you need to have it done. The number is usually limited to three or four per year.
You should only get one epidural every two months because more frequent use can increase your risk of side effects, increasing the chance of severe problems such as permanent nerve damage and other complications.
In summary, epidural injections are used for long-term pain relief is needed for people experiencing chronic or severe nerve damage that doesn’t respond to treatment. If you need more frequent epidural injections, the doctor may recommend an alternative treatment approach to avoid having multiple procedures over a short period.
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