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Epidural Injections for Herniated Discs
What are Epidural Injections for Herniated Discs?Epidural injections come in several varieties, including pure anesthetic shots often called nerve blocks. These shots provide pain relief by blocking all nerve transmissions from the affected disc region. Other types of epidural shoot cortisone and steroids into painful tissue to resolve stiffness and joint dysfunction. Specific flushing agent injections are often given to patients with ruptured disc conditions, in an attempt to neutralize the potentially irritating effects of leaking nucleus pulposus proteins on surrounding nerve tissue. These injections target the process known as chemical radiculitis and are perhaps the most controversial of all back pain injections.Epidural Injections for Herniated Discs / StatisticsEpidural nerve blocks are especially effective for providing pain relief from a variety of symptomatic dorsopathy conditions. Unfortunately, most patients find this benefit to be short lived and each successive round of injections typically provides reduced effects in both pain relief and duration. Epidural nerve blocks are the ultimate symptomatic herniated disc treatment and will do nothing at all to resolve the actual structural complaint. All they can hope to accomplish is to make life easier to bear while the disc heals on its own. For patients whose discs have already caused an ongoing chronic back pain condition to exist, epidural injections are typically a complete waste of time.Flushing injections to combat chemical radiculitis offer a slightly better chance of resolving nerve pain in patients suffering from a ruptured disc. While this diagnosis remains controversial, flushing agents work in about half of the treated patients. Cortisone and steroid injections demonstrate poor curative results for many back pain conditions and also have inherent risks which make them a less desirable treatment option. Advice on Epidural Injections for Herniated DiscsEpidurals can provide lasting relief early in the course of injection therapy. Almost without exception, subsequent rounds of injections are less effective and last a shorter time in their pain relieving qualities. Many herniated disc patients are thrilled with the results of their first shot, but are quickly disheartened when the relief ends and follow up treatments simply do not measure up to the benefits of the initial injection.Epidurals are symptomatic in nature, except some specifically designed to eliminate the effects of chemical radiculitis. These might actually enact a real cure for painful nerve irritation. When considering nerve blocks or corticosteroid injections, it is better to skip them altogether or simply use them once for short term herniated disc relief while pursuing a better treatment option. It is always advised to completely heal the disc pain, rather than simply cover it up under a haze of anesthetic drugs. Spinal decompression is a far better bet for confirmed physical disc pain, while knowledge therapy is terrific for ischemic based pain syndromes. 7/21/08 Revised 12/5/09
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