What is a Corticosteroid Epidural Injection?
A corticosteroid epidural is a back injection that reduces inflammation and gives long-term relief of back and leg pain. The advantage of back injections over oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, is the ability to place the medicine directly where it is needed. Typically, the only discomfort you feel during the procedure is the initial injection given to numb the skin and soft tissues before the epidural injection. You remain awake while the physician injects a preparation that contains anesthetic (numbing medicine) and then corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) medication into the space surrounding the spinal cord and spinal nerves (epidural space). The procedure is done under x-ray guidance to ensure proper placement of the needle. The epidural injection usually takes only a few minutes and is done as an outpatient procedure. Pain relief is often immediate because of the anesthesia used during the procedure. However, this initial response wears off, and, af
