Epidural injections are among the most effective pain management methods, but they can only be administered if the doctor or the therapist feels it is necessary. The University of Maryland and every reliable pain center Maryland have extensive research programs and treatment facilities to identify and treat various pain types. Surgery is mostly used as a last resort. Out of the non-surgical methods, using epidural steroid injections is a prevalent procedure in Maryland to reduce pain and inflammation around the spine and spinal nerves.
Here are some scenarios where the doctor will recommend epidural injections.
Pain caused by Spinal Nerves
This form of pain is often termed sciatica, and almost 50% of patients in Maryland complaining of pain in the back and legs suffer from it. Also known as radiculopathy, the condition results in intense pain if a spinal nerve in the lower back is compressed. It will send pain shooting down to your feet along the back of your thighs. The compression is caused by problems related to discs, bones, or soft tissues in the lower back, and the epidural injections result in relief from this pain quite effectively. There are sciatic nerve stretches that you can do at home
Herniated Discs
Another condition in which the Maryland doctors could prescribe epidural injections for pain management is in the case of herniated discs. In this condition, the soft inner contents of a disc push through outer layers, often causing immense pain in the process. Similarly, degenerated discs might also cause pain as the disc starts to lose fluid and shrinks in size.
Foraminal Spinal Stenosis
About 10% of Maryland cases where patients suffer from spinal pain condition suffer from this ailment. The pain is caused when the bony openings of the spinal nerve roots start becoming narrower. It causes them to compress the nerve. Epidurals are an effective way of controlling the pain, but it is not permanent relief.
Factors Determining the Outcome of Epidurals
Doctors in Maryland feel that several factors are responsible for the outcome of epidural injections, and they vary from patient to patient.
- The primary factor is the condition that is being treated. Doctors in Maryland treat pain in the lower back and legs through various techniques like facet joint injection or radiofrequency ablation after determining the cause of the pain.
- Next comes the injection technique. To reach the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord, the doctors in Maryland often resort to a transforaminal route, inserting the needle through the intervertebral foramen. This helps in targeting the nerve roots better from the side of the spinal canal.
- The choice of steroids is another key factor, and Maryland doctors often use anesthetics and epidural steroids for the desired effect. This makes the epidurals more effective and reduces pain signals from the inflamed nerve ends.
You should always consult doctors at a reputable pain center in Maryland about how the treatment will benefit your condition. Epidurals should only be taken after the doctors have provided you with the information regarding the treatment’s success rate, the duration of the pain relief, and any potential side effects. However, most of the procedures are successful, making Maryland pain centers a go-to destination for pain relief in the region.