Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that affects the overall quality of your life by reducing your ability to work and be active. Lumbar epidural steroid injection (LESI) is one of the available nonsurgical treatments for chronic low back and leg pain caused by inflamed or injured spinal nerves. LESI is proven to be an effective way to manage pain and thus, its popularity has been steadily increasing since 1998, making it one of the most common treatments for managing chronic spinal pain in the United States.
LESI contains a combination of a local anesthetic pain medicine and an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. The treatment is performed by injecting these medicines directly into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. This provides an effective, long-term pain relief that can last for weeks or even years. Corticosteroids offer especially effective treatment for spinal nerve conditions due to their ability to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation of the nerve roots.
The benefits of epidural steroid injections have been evaluated by several clinical trials. In general, the procedure is found to be an effective treatment for chronic low back and lower extremity pain caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc herniation and sciatica. Participants of several scientific studies reported reduced pain and increased quality of life that lasted for up to a year after receiving the injection.
However, as with any treatment, LESI is also associated with a few risks. Potential risks include bleeding, infection, nerve damage, and a spinal headache. Corticosteroids can also lead to weight gain, mood swings, insomnia, and elevated blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. LESI should not be used on patients who are pregnant, have an infection, or suffer from bleeding problems.
Lumbar epidural steroid injection can be an effective treatment method, especially in cases when other nonsurgical treatments have failed to manage or treat spinal pain. If you suffer from chronic pain, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of LESI, and whether it is the correct treatment choice for you.
*DISCLAIMER: These are not medical diagnosis or suggestions for any specific individuals. They are an overview of various conditions, treatments and topics discussed by New York Pain Management Group. If you would like to discuss your symptoms in greater detail, do not hesitate to contact the New York Pain Management Group. To learn more about treatment options for this and other pain conditions, contact us today at www.nopainny.com or call at 1-888-789-NOPAIN! We will be happy to assist you.
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