What is an Epidural Injection?
Epidural injections involve delivering corticosteroid medication and sometimes a local anesthetic directly into the epidural space surrounding the spinal nerves. This helps reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve mobility in individuals with conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or sciatica. It is one of the most widely used interventional pain management techniques, often chosen before considering surgery.
This procedure helps to:
- Reduce nerve inflammation and swelling.
- Relieve back, leg, or neck pain.
- Improve mobility and quality of life.
- Delay or avoid the need for surgery.
- Support physical therapy effectiveness.
What to expect after an Epidural Injection?
Most patients experience temporary numbness or heaviness in the legs for a few hours. Pain relief can begin within a few days, though some may feel immediate relief. The injection site may feel sore, but normal activities can usually be resumed within a day.
- Temporary leg weakness or tingling.
- Mild soreness at injection site.
- Gradual pain reduction within days.
- Short recovery, usually no downtime.
- Results lasting from weeks to months.
