ESI, short for epidural steroid injection, is a procedure in which corticosteroids, a form of anti-inflammatory drug, are injected into regions about the spine with the primary goal of relieving, managing, or identifying specific sources of pain. The procedure can be performed along the entire spine, meaning all the way from the cervical (neck), down to the caudal (spine base), by physicians such as physiatrists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, or interventional radiologists, but this will depend on a specific physicians training across the board. For many people, ESI is pursued as a treatment for types of chronic pain, meaning pain that is persistent over a substantial period of time. Because of this, they are often a form of temporary relief with effects lasting up to 6 months or more in some cases. It is also not a first-line treatment, meaning that it will likely be considered after previous treatments have not shown desired results. Speaking with a qualified physician will be able to help determine if the procedure is the proper treatment route for your specific needs.

Epidural steroid injections can be an effective way to mitigate the pain experienced due to chronic nervous system conditions, and as such, likely candidates to benefit from the treatment are almost exclusively dealing with an injury or degenerative disease of the nervous system. It should also be noted that ESI is mostly for those who haven’t had much success with prior treatment or are likely to not respond well to such treatment, such as opioids or other painkillers. Furthermore, a physician will be able to determine if ESI is the best possible treatment route to take, however, this cannot be achieved without consulting with one. Likewise, it will be of great benefit to know the specific common conditions someone may receive ESI for. These largely include herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and many more. While those experiencing chronic pain are largely those who go through with ESI, it can be used as a diagnostic tool in some cases involving the nervous system as well.

The main purpose and benefit of epidural steroid injections is pain relief. While one may be quick to point to certain painkillers as an alternative, there are many other forms of pain relief medicine available, and in some cases, they are better than simply prescribing painkillers. A patient specifically looking to ESI for treatment is sure to be dealing with a condition that is already hindering them severely and has already tried painkillers with not much benefit. What ESI offers is a procedure that acts as a short-term solution to manage the pain for a few months before needing another injection. This procedure can give those dealing with chronic pain a sense of life prior to injury or condition. It can overall improve the quality of life, which is very valuable for anyone experiencing pain. As a final note, ESI can reduce the chances of the need for a significantly more invasive pain management procedure down the road, which is especially appealing to many people.

ESI can vary in how long before the next injection is needed, but on average, people get one injection every two to four months. This interval depends on some factors, namely a person’s existing health and the type of condition aimed to treat. For something such as a herniated disc that has been caught early, treatment is sure to look different than someone dealing with a form of degenerative disc disease. In the instance of a herniated disc, it is not necessarily going to be a cause of chronic pain, thus a few procedures spaced a few weeks apart may be recommended by a physician. In the instance of chronic pain, the procedures may initially be spaced closer together, and as time progresses, the time between successive injections increases. While this is generally true, the timeline is very dependent on how the body responds to the treatment. We serve patients from Phoenix AZ, Sun City AZ, Peoria AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Glendale AZ, Tempe AZ, Waddell AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, and BEYOND!