CAUDAL EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTION

If you suffer from chronic low back pain or another painful condition, a lumbar epidural injection might be the best option for you. A caudal epidural steroid injection can help provide long-term pain relief for a number of conditions. This relief usually sets in a few days after only one injection. It is one of many outpatient procedures that we offer for chronic pain at The Pain Relief Center. A pain management specialist with our team can expertly administer these injections, providing lasting relief for your low back pain. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 214-709-1904 today.

What Is a Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection?

Caudal epidural injections are administered into the lumbar epidural space in the lower back. The epidural space is the sleeve that surrounds the nerve roots in your spinal cord. These spinal injections contain steroids that provide significant pain relief and reduce inflammation. This type of outpatient procedure provides relief for most patients within a few days of the procedure.

What Conditions Are Treated by Caudal Injections?

A caudal epidural injection has many benefits, such as reducing pain and inflammation. It provides pain relief for various painful conditions, including the following.

• Degenerative disk disease
• Lumbar canal stenosis
• Nerve root compression
• Spinal stenosis (also called spinal canal stenosis)
• Herniated disc
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Radiculopathy
• Sciatica
• Facet joint pain
• Spondylosis
• Bone spurs

What Are the Benefits of Caudal Steroid Injections?

Caudal epidural steroid injections have many benefits, including the following.

• Reducing back pain and leg pain
• Quick and easy procedure with minimal downtime
• Avoid a surgical procedure
• Few risks compared to surgery
• Participate in other treatments, such as physical therapy
• No hospital stay is necessary
• Fast pain relief and fast recovery

What Happens Before a Caudal Injection?

Before the procedure, your doctor will take a complete medical history and note all of your current medications and supplements. It is especially important to let your healthcare provider know if you take blood thinners, as these increase bleeding risks at the injection site. We also recommend that patients arrange for someone to drive them home after the procedure. It’s best to avoid driving for at least 24 hours after the injection.

What Happens During a Caudal Steroid Injection?

Once you arrive at our office, we’ll take you to an X-ray table. You will lie face-down on the table and get comfortable. Then, your provider will apply a local anesthetic to numb the surface of your lower back. This topical anesthetic ensures that you feel comfortable and pain-free during the procedure.

Our specialist will use an epidural needle to inject a special dye into your epidural space. This reveals exactly where the steroid medication should go. We will then use an X-ray to look at the dye and determine needle placement. Using another needle, we inject the steroids into the epidural space.

What Happens After a Caudal Injection?

The procedure is very short, requiring only around fifteen minutes to half an hour. Once the steroid injection is complete, you will be able to go home. As we mentioned before, you should not drive or engage in any strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after the injection. Once the numbing medicine wears off, you will likely feel some soreness at the injection site. Local anesthetic generally lasts around four to six hours. You should feel pain relief after two to three days.

What Is Recovery Like After Caudal Injections?

We recommend waiting at least 24 hours before returning to your normal level of activity. As we stated previously, you will likely feel pain relief after a few days. However, some patients don’t feel pain relief until up to ten days after the procedure occurs.

How Often Do I Need Caudal Injections?

This varies on a patient-to-patient basis. Some patients achieve relief from pain after just one injection. If you continue to feel pain, you might be able to receive another injection after two to four weeks. Some patients experience permanent relief from pain after their first injection. Others require multiple injections in a year. It’s important to speak with a pain specialist to determine the best course of action in your specific situation.

Risks of Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections

Although the procedure has fewer risks than back surgery, it still has its own risks. Possible risks and side effects include the following.

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Fainting from a rapid decrease in blood pressure
• Pain at the site of injection (which can be managed with pain medications and cold therapy)
• Meningitis
• Epidural abscess
• Soft tissue abscess
• Infection
• Hematoma

How Effective Are Caudal Injections?

Caudal steroid injections are effective for pain management in many patients. If your goal is to increase your functionality while avoiding surgery, this option could be perfect for you. Additionally, once you get your pain levels under control, you can take part in other treatments that we offer, including the following.

• Percutaneous discectomy
• Sacroiliac joint steroid injections
• Spinal cord stimulator implants
• Cervical epidural steroid injection
• ESTIM
• Facet injections
• Lumbar sympathetic block
• Other back pain treatments

How Long Does a Caudal Steroid Injection Last?

Again, this varies from patient to patient. For some people, the relief lasts for several months. For others, the effects last for a few weeks. Speak with your doctor to determine how often you should receive injections. You may find that injections into your nerve roots don’t provide as much relief as you’d like. In this case, speak with your doctor to determine other options for the treatment of your pain.

Achieve Pain Relief With Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections

If you’re suffering from chronic or acute lower back pain, consider a caudal epidural injection. At The Pain Relief Center, this is one of the many options we offer for those suffering from debilitating back pain. This option provides lasting relief for the spinal nerves and is very effective for many of our patients. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 214-709-1904 today.