Lumbar Epidural Injections

A lumbar epidural injection, which contains a numbing medicine and a steroid, won’t stop all low back and leg pain for everyone. But it can reduce pain and break the pain cycle for many patients. This cycle may begin when back pain makes it hard to move. Lack of movement can then slow down the healing process. By getting you back on your feet, the injection can help speed your recovery. Some people may feel more relief from an injection than others, and some people may need more than one injection to get relief. Usually, no more than four injections are done in a 12-month period. If the first injection did not help, it is less likely that another one will help, but it may help your doctor know if a different type of procedure may be an option. What is a lumbar epidural injection? An epidural injection can help locate the source of pain. Also called a selective nerve root block or a transforaminal epidural, it numbs the roots of specific nerves. The effect is temporary, but if you feel relief, it may indicate the source of the pain. If you feel no relief, it may mean that the pain’s source is at another place in your spine, or it may mean that something other than inflammation is causing the pain. Injection results also may be used to help plan back surgery, if needed. Possible Risks and Complications Some risks of lumbar epidural include: Spinal headache Bleeding (rare) Infection (rare)