Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work, according to the American Chiropractic Association. When you can no longer manage back pain on your own, Narinder Grewal, MD, and the expert team at Advanced Pain Management in Santa Clarita and Lancaster, California, offer targeted treatments, like epidural injections to help you find relief. To find out how epidural injections can alleviate pain and improve your quality of life, call Advanced Pain Management or book an appointment online.
Most people experience back pain at least once in their lifetime, but for many patients, the condition is a chronic problem. The most common causes of back pain include:
Back pain comes in all forms and may not be as obvious as you think. Some of the most common back pain symptoms to watch out for include:
Early intervention is crucial when treating back pain, so talk to your doctor at Advanced Pain Management right away if you experience any of the above symptoms for longer than a few days.
An epidural injection is essentially a shot of anti-inflammatory medication that is delivered into the epidural space directly outside of your spinal cord. This medication reduces swelling and inflammation around the spine, which relieves nerve pressure that may cause chronic back pain.
The effects of epidural last for about three months and gives your body time to heal. Without chronic inflammation around your spine, your nerve roots have a chance to repair themselves naturally, so you can enjoy your life without pain once again.
After changing into a hospital gown, you can either lie on your stomach or side. The team may use multiple X-ray images (fluoroscopy) to help your provider place the needle in the perfect location for maximum pain relief.
Next, the Advanced Pain Management team injects you with the epidural. They may also give you a local anesthetic to numb the injection site before the procedure.
Epidural injections only take a few minutes. After the procedure, you must rest for up to 30 minutes, as the team needs to monitor your reactions to the epidural before you go home.
It’s important that you have a ride home from the procedure. Some patients experience immediate relief following their first injection, but most people notice an improvement in their pain within the first few days.
If traditional treatments haven’t provided the relief you need to thrive, an epidural injection can help reduce inflammation so you can get back to enjoying life. Call Advanced Pain Management or book an appointment online to learn more