Epidural Steroid Injection

 

Although the efficacy of the epidural steroid injection at the waist varies from patient to patient, in the interventions performed within the first six months after the onset of the complaints, lumbar disc herniation. Pain complaints are improved in 80-90% of patients. In more delayed cases, this rate decreases (50-70%), providing relief for a period of 2 months to 1.5 years or more. Purpose of epidural steroid injection; It is to ensure that the patient returns to his normal life by relieving the pain and painless participation in the physical therapy program if necessary.

 

2 different techniques are used.

1. Interlaminar technique: Drug laminates made between the outer surface of the nerve sheath, called the dura that is entering the epidural region.

2. Transforaminal technique: In this technique, medication is injected into the exit hole of the nerve from the spine, that is, into the foraminal area.

 

Steroid injections are made in the operating room with a C-arm fluoroscopy X-ray device. A mixture of steroid and local anesthetic drugs is injected into the nerve environment that causes the complaints. After the procedure, the patient is discharged home after 4 hours of observation. The process can be repeated up to 4 times a year. The complication rate is extremely low. It is an effective and widely used treatment method in the treatment of herniated disc.

Dr. Tamer Tekin