How to Prepare for Epidural Steroids for Back & Leg Pain
Excruciating shooting pain, numbness, weakness or tingling that travels from the lower back down to your legs indicate that there is irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve roots. If you have severe sciatica or chronic back pain, epidural steroids may provide temporary pain relief. In this procedure, a local anesthetic combined with a corticosteroid is directly injected into the sciatic nerve space that is causing your pain. The goal is to reduce inflammation in the irritated spinal nerves thus reducing pain in the legs and back. Once pain is controlled, your physician may recommend a physical therapy program.
Instructions
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Discuss the benefits, the risks and any other alternatives to this procedure with your physician. Possible risks include infection, paralysis, bleeding and nerve damage from a needle puncture.
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Inform your physician if you have diabetes, because sometimes steroids affect glucose levels.
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Discuss alternatives with your physician if you develop a local or systemic infection. Avoid epidural steroid injections if you are taking blood thinners or if you have hemophilia (bleeding problems). Patients that have pain that suggests a possible tumor also should not have this procedure. An MRI scan should be performed to eliminate the possibility of a tumor.
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Inform your physician if you are pregnant or believe there is a chance of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, your physician will offer alternatives to this injection.
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Ask your physician for a sedative if you desire. A sedative can help ease your anxiety, and it can help you relax during the procedure.
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Ask your physician which medication you should take for pain relief. Some patients notice a temporary increase in pain after this procedure because the medications used can cause irritation. Pain at the injection site is also common.
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Discuss your current medications with your physician. It is advised that patients discontinue taking high doses of aspirin or other anti-platelet drugs because they can increase risks of bleeding.
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Stop smoking. Smoking may increase your risk of infection and takes longer to recover from this procedure.
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Arrange proper transportation to the location where the procedure will take place. Ask someone to accompany you and that can take you home. Know that you can not drive the day of the procedure. You should be able to resume your normal activities in a day or so.
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Prepare for possible side effects such as numbness in your lower back, buttocks, or your legs for several hours after the procedure. You may also have a fever, headache, anxiety, facial warmth or mood swings.
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Ask any questions that you may have before you sign a consent form.
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Tips & Warnings
An epidural steroid injection may not work for every patient.
