Preparing for Injection
After observation and assessment of chronic back pain, a doctor may recommend a lumbar epidural for relieving pain and inflammation. This treatment is only temporary but it may be all that is necessary to relieve a patient of their pain. Other treatment methods may coincide with the epidural to remove pressure from the source of the pain.
The epidural consists of three separate injections two weeks apart. Prior to the procedure, an individual will be advised to eat lightly. The medical professional will swab the area with antiseptic to prevent germs or bacteria from entering the area during the puncture. An intravenous (IV) anesthetic will be administered into a vein in the lower arm near the elbow or on the top of the hand. This is to help the patient relax before the procedure.
Injection
After the IV is given time to begin working, the doctor will inject the site with a small amount of numbing solution. After the site becomes numb, the doctor will insert a small needle into the spinal cord area known as the epidural space. According to Dr. Dreyfuss at SpineUniverse.com, the epidural space surrounds the tissue that covers the spinal cord and nerve roots. An x-ray machine is used to guide the doctor in placing the needle correctly into the epidural space. A contrast die is injected through the needle letting the doctor know the needle is in the correct place. Once this has been confirmed, the anesthetic and anti-inflammatory solution is inserted into the epidural space.
After the Injection
The anesthetic and anti-inflammatory will provide pain relief and a reduction of inflammation for about two weeks. The anesthesia wears off within a few hours and the steroid takes about three to five days to become effective. The steroid may provide relief for several days or even months, according toReddinganesthesia.com. The patient will return to the medical facility for up to two more injections, repeating the exact same procedure. The epidural can cause numbness of the backside of the upper leg. This is why patients cannot leave the facility without a driver to take them home. Patients are monitored by the doctor or nurse for 30 to 90 minutes depending upon the health facility's standard operating procedures.
Patients will be advised to monitor their pain after the procedure and report back to the doctor at the follow-up appointment two weeks later. According to Neurocare.com, the procedure may provide enough relief to allow the injury or source of pain to heal permanently.
