For millions of Americans, there may be no bigger issue facing their health and wellness than finding a treatment for chronic back pain. As we age, it’s normal to experience some aches and pains in our back or joints. However, chronic back pain can seriously impact a person’s ability to relax, work, or perform normal everyday tasks. To help prospective patients who experience back pain that is affecting their quality of life, the board-certified neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center wanted to shed some light on one of the most common and effective methods of treating this issue, epidural injections.

The goal of epidural injection treatments is to treat pain by reducing inflammation and swelling of the soft tissues (including the nerve roots) and the joints of the spine. The most common type of epidural injection that we administer combines an anti-inflammatory steroid with an anesthetic, however different types of injections can be used to address different areas of the spine. Typically, the pain-killing effect begins to take hold a few days after treatment and the results can last for weeks to months or even longer in some cases.

What Epidural Injections Can Do:

When performed at Georgia Brain & Spine Center, epidural injections can be an excellent way to alleviate back pain and spinal discomfort. We use epidural injections to treat symptoms of common spinal conditions including arthritis, herniated discs, and sciatica. For some patients, epidural injections can safely replace pain-killing medications. Additionally, we may use epidural injections for diagnostic purposes in some patients. Injections made into an area can help define a specific portion of the spine where a patient’s pain originates from.

What Epidural Injections Cannot Do:

Epidural injections cannot be used as a substitute for certain more invasive spinal procedures. For instance, the results achieved by spinal fusion surgery or a decompression laminectomy cannot be replicated by utilizing these anti-inflammatory, pain-killing injections. Also, epidural injections cannot be administered too often. We limit epidural injections to between 1-3 treatments per year, as administering them too often can cause the vertebrae and spinal muscles to weaken over time.

We perform epidural injections as outpatient procedures, and patients are able to return to the comfort of their own home once the treatment has concluded. Bringing our patients relief from their back pain is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. Don’t forget to follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more..