What is an Epidural?

 

 

An epidural is an injection of steroids in an area called the “epidural space”. It is designed to reduce pain and take care of any lingering inflammation. You may know the term “epidural” as relating to childbirth, but it also treats the spine. Epidural steroid injections, or ESI, treat back pain, specifically. This type of injection typically treats the inflammation associated with a bulging or herniating disc and spinal stenosis. Although common in practice, ESI injections can have the following side effects:

  • Dizziness, headache, or abdominal unease
  • Pain that radiates down your leg, related to nerve root damage
  • Infection in or surrounding the spine
  • Allergic reactions to medication
  • Bleeding
  • Rare complications related to the brain and nervous system
  • Difficulty breathing, especially if the injection takes place around your neck
  • Too many injections/ high dose injections may weaken your spinal bones
  • ESI’s are short term, meaning you may need multiple injections to alleviate symptoms

At West Texas Neck and Back we have Pain Management Doctors refer patients to us!

Either before or after a consultation and or treatment with a pain management doctor, every patient deserves to find out if they are a candidate for DRX-9000 Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Epidurals (ESI) treats inflammation, Spinal Decompression treats the DISC

We take measures to ensure that you understand your condition and that you receive the best care possible. One example of this is for patients with sciatica. While one typical treatment for sciatica is an epidural steroid injection, however, ESI only aims to treat the pain associated with sciatica.

West Texas Spine and Back expertly assesses each patient’s condition and provide the appropriate treatment, while educating you on how to treat the cause of a condition–not just the symptoms. A bulging or herniated disc causes sciatica by irritating a nerve root. Spinal decompression can also treat this condition. Spinal decompression is non-invasive alternative that provides none of the side effects that an ESI does. At West Texas Neck and Back, we provide patients with a non-invasive option that relieves pain and targets the condition at the source, not only the symptoms. Instead, we   target the root cause of the problem to ensure that patients are receiving proper treatment and care.

In certain cases, patients have the ESI done with their pain management doctor and then are referred to us for DRX-9000 Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy for the disc.

Book a consultation with us at West Texas Neck & Back so we can hear your BACK STORY!