Sciatica and low back pain can become so painful that many people suffering from it cannot do anything else because of the pain. There are many treatments for these conditions. One of which is Epidural steroid injections or ESIs. Doctors started using ESIs in 1952. The epidural steroid injections eases pain the cervical and thoracic region. It means, the neck and mid spine region, in simple English. 

Effects of epidural can last for a few hours, yet some doctors claim that their patients were relieved from pain for as long as a year! Epidural injections can be as much as three times in a year if it is effective for the patient. There are studies which have been conducted that shows the immediate and short term benefits of epidural injections. However, there are not enough studies that can make one come to the conclusion that epidural injections has long term benefits.

There are studies that aimed to look into the long term benefits of epidural injections, but there are flaws in their methods and procedure. These studies do not include x-ray or fluoroscopy to check the proper placement of the medication. Another flaw of these studies is that patients are not properly classified as to the source of their pain.  

What can be learned from these studies are the potential benefits of epidural steroid injections. Epidural steroid injections directly address to the source of the pain and do not need to undergo many body processes since this is injected to the epidural space in the spine. Oral steroids are less effective because it becomes less diluted as its effects are distributed in the body. In addition to controlling the local inflammation, it can flush out the chemicals that contribute to the pain. 

The common steroids used today are Methylprednisolone acetate, Triacinolone acetonide, and Dexamethasone. Steroids reduce the pain by reducing the immune system's reaction to the inflammation.

Steroids can help these conditions: lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal Stenosis, compression fractures in a vertebra, cysts in the nerve root or facet joint and annular tear. Despite having these conditions, there are patients who shouldn't be given epidural steroid injections. The list includes patients who are pregnant, or how have bleeding problems and suffering from a local or systemic infection, tumors.  Extra care must be taken if there are patients who suffer from allergies and uncontrolled medical problems such as congestive heart failure and diabetes. Medications that cause bleeding should also be stopped.
The procedure is usually done in a hospital or clinic. This procedure does not take long and sedatives are not necessary. The area to be injected is cleaned and local anesthetic numbs the area. With the use of live x-ray, the doctor can easily aim the needle towards the epidural space. The epidural steroid is slowly injected. After the procedure, the doctor monitors the patient for 15 to 20 minutes. For more information, you should discuss the procedure with your physician. Physicians who are qualified to inject epidural include anesthesiologist, physiatrist, surgeon, radiologist and neurologist. 

Success rate of this procedure is quite high. However, there are risks involved. Risks include infection, dural puncture, bleeding and nerve damage. These risks are very rare. Possible side effects of the procedure include facial flushing, anxiety, sleeplessness, fever, high blood sugar, stomach ulcers, and headaches. When you feel that something is physically wrong with you, never hesitate to contact your physician about it.