"An epidural steroid injection is a procedure that treats spinal nerve irritation caused by tissues next to the nerve pressing against it. The beginning of the nerve is most often irritated by inflamed vertebral disc, or disc contents, directly touching the spinal nerve.

With an epidural steroid injection, the inflamed nerve root is bathed in steroids, which are potent anti-inflammation medicines. These steroids decrease the irritation of the nerve root that is causing pain.

Receiving an epidural steroid injection is a relatively simple treatment, a needle and syringe are entered into the epidural space and small amounts of long-lasting steroids are injected around the inflamed spinal nerve. A fluoroscopic x-ray machine is used to visualize the local anatomy during the injection. The epidural steroid injection specifically targets the inflamed area and treats it with a maximal amount of steroids, thereby minimizing exposure of the rest of the body to the steroids.

The most common uses of epidural steroid injections are for symptoms of radicular pain, which is a radiating pain that is transmitted away from the spine by an irritated spinal nerve. Irritation of a spinal nerve in the low back, lumbar radiculopathy, causes pain that goes down the leg. Epidural injections are also used to treat nerve compression in the neck, referred to as cervical radiculopathy."

Source:  MedicineNet.com - ©MedicineNet, Inc.