Pinpoint Precision: Fast Spine Relief with Image-Guided Epidural Steroid Injections

A spinal nerve root that’s irritated, impinged, or inflamed can be a real pain in the neck — or a real pain in the lower back, legs, or arms, depending on the exact location of the nerve that’s being pinched, squeezed, or strained.

When spinal nerve inflammation and pain don’t improve after a few weeks of activity modification, physical therapy (PT), and anti-inflammatory medication, it’s time to head over to Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates.  

To help you get fast relief that’s effective enough for you to get back to PT — and lasts long enough for you to make real gains in therapy — board-certified pain management expert Dr. Okezie N. Okezie may recommend image-guided epidural steroid injections. 

Rapid, inflammation-calming pain relief

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a minimally invasive pain relief procedure that can effectively alleviate persistent neck, back, arm, and leg pain stemming from an irritated or inflamed spinal nerve root. 

Done with the aid of live X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) for precise treatment, an ESI delivers a mixture of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and local anesthetics directly into the epidural space surrounding the affected spinal nerve to provide rapid pain relief.

Pain conditions we can ease with an ESI

Several common chronic pain conditions are rooted in spinal nerve irritation, impingement, or inflammation. This type of nerve pain may remain localized in the neck or lower back, or it may radiate along the affected nerve pathway into an arm or leg. 

Dr. Okezie can use an ESI to help alleviate persistent pain caused by:

• Stenosis (spinal narrowing)
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
• Spondylolysis or bone spurs

For example, a herniated spinal disc can cause chemical irritation when its inner gel spills out onto the spinal nerve root; a bulging disc, on the other hand, can press onto the nerve root and trigger inflammation through impingement. 

When a nerve rooted in the lower back (lumbar spine) is pinched by stenosis, a bone spur, or a herniated disc, the resulting pain can radiate down your leg, causing sciatica; in the same way, a pinched nerve in your neck (cervical spine) can cause radiating arm pain. 

ESI treatment: A fast and easy procedure

Several weeks of conservative care haven’t improved your pain, and your discomfort is too intense to keep participating in PT. You’re not ready for surgery — but you need a next-level pain relief approach that will help you get back to your rehab plan and your active life. 

If an ESI is the next best step for you, you can expect a quick procedure that delivers rapid relief. First, you lie flat on your stomach on the treatment table. After Dr. Okezie activates the live X-ray device for total image-guided precision, he:  

1. Numbs the treatment area with a local anesthetic 
2. Inserts a thin needle into the epidural space of the affected nerve
3. Confirms needle placement with a small injection of contrast dye
4. Slowly injects the steroid and anesthetic medication mixture
5. Withdraws the needle and puts a small bandage on your skin 

Your entire ESI appointment takes 45-60 minutes, with about 15-20 minutes for prep, 10-15 minutes for the injection, and 20-30 minutes for monitored recovery.  

Pain relief timeline (and limitations) of ESIs

When you’ve been living with around-the-clock spinal pain, an ESI can feel like a major breakthrough. First, it’s fast: the local anesthetic delivers rapid relief, often when you’re still right here in our office. Second, the steroid begins reducing inflammation within 48 hours, setting the stage for longer-lasting pain relief. 

Pain relief window

While the steroid medication can take up to a week to fully reduce inflammation, once it has, the results can last anywhere from several weeks to several months, helping you return to PT so you can continue making headway in your rehab plan. 

Limitations of ESIs

ESIs help manage spinal pain, but they don’t improve the underlying condition. Dr. Okezie also strictly limits this pain relief procedure to three or four treatment sessions per year to reduce the risk of experiencing adverse side effects from the steroid medication.

Expert chronic pain management in Houston

The occasional ESI can be highly beneficial for many people coping with chronic back, neck, or sciatic nerve pain. Is it the best next step in your pain management plan?

To find out, schedule an appointment with Dr. Okezie at your nearest Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates office in Humble or Baytown, Texas, today.