6 Common Questions About Epidural Injections
Dealing with chronic back pain can feel like an endless cycle of discomfort and limitations. At the Central Texas Spine Institute in Austin, we often recommend epidural injections as a powerful, non-surgical tool to help patients regain their quality of life.
As a leading spine specialist Austin trusts, we understand that the idea of a spinal injection can be intimidating. To help put your mind at ease, we have compiled answers to the six most common questions patients ask us about this effective spine treatment. Contact us today.
1. What Exactly Is an Epidural Steroid Injection?
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. The “epidural space” is the area between the protective covering of your spinal cord and the vertebrae. When a disc herniates or spinal stenosis occurs, nerves in this area can become compressed and inflamed.
During the procedure, your back doctor injects a potent anti-inflammatory medication (a corticosteroid) mixed with a local anesthetic directly into this space.
Will the Procedure Be Painful?
This is the most common worry we hear. The short answer is: you should feel pressure, but not significant pain. Before the actual epidural injection, we use a local anesthetic to numb the skin and deeper tissues. You might feel a brief sting from the numbing shot, similar to a bee sting, followed by a sensation of pressure as the needle is guided into the epidural space.
As a dedicated orthopedic spine specialist, our priority is your comfort. Most patients tolerate the procedure very well and are surprised by how quickly it is over.
3. How Do You Ensure the Injection Is Safe?
Precision is key. We do not rely on guesswork. At the Central Texas Spine Institute, we perform these injections using fluoroscopy—a special type of real-time X-ray technology. This allows your spine surgeon to visualize the needle’s exact placement on a monitor, ensuring the medication is delivered precisely where it is needed while avoiding sensitive structures. This technology significantly maximizes safety and effectiveness, making us some of the best back surgeons in Texas for interventional pain management.
4. How Long Does the Procedure Take?
We know your time is valuable. One of the major benefits of epidural injections is that they are outpatient procedures. The injection itself typically takes only 10 to 20 minutes. However, you should plan to be at our spine clinic in Austin for about an hour total to account for pre-procedure preparation and a short recovery monitoring period afterward.
5. What Is the Recovery Time?
You won’t need weeks of bed rest. In fact, we generally encourage you to walk around shortly after the procedure. However, because of the anesthetic, you may experience some temporary leg weakness or numbness immediately following the injection. For this reason, you must have someone drive you home. Most patients can resume their normal daily activities the very next day.
6. How Long Will the Pain Relief Last?
Results vary from patient to patient. Some feel relief within 48 hours, while for others it may take up to a week for the steroid to fully reduce the inflammation. The relief can last anywhere from a few months to a year or longer.
Ideally, this window of pain relief provides you with the opportunity to participate in physical therapy and strengthen your back muscles, which is often the key to long-term recovery.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
If you are living with back pain, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Epidural injections can be the bridge that moves you from chronic pain to active recovery. Whether you are dealing with sciatica, a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, consulting with a qualified spine specialist in Austin residents rely on is your first step toward relief.
