What Are Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?

Bending, walking, sitting, and even standing can cause intense back pain. If you have had an accident, play a sport, or had some other trauma to the spine, you may be in luck. Doctors and specialists often administer lumbar epidural injections to help the patient release the tension and discomfort in their arms, legs and lower back. The team at Virgin Islands Orthopedists and Medical Specialists offer such injections, serving both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
 

What Are Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections?

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections are shots that contain a painkiller like lidocaine, and a corticosteroid. The steroid reduces the inflammation and the swelling, while the numbing agent addresses the pain.
 

Doctors insert the shots in the lower region in the spine, otherwise known as the lumbar. The lumbar spans from bone T12 to bone S1.
 

Conditions that can benefit from the injections are:

  • Sciatica
  • Herniated disk
  • Bone degeneration
  • Athletes treating trauma

Working In Tandem With Other Therapies

After giving the injections, your doctor or therapist will want to gently work with you on a stretching and strengthening routine to help you remedy the pain. The injections make this treatment plan easier to execute -- there are less pain and stiffness to work around when the injections have taken effect.
 

Risks and Side Effects

Side effects include raised blood sugar levels in those who are diabetic, muscle weakness or numbness, water retention, and weight gain. Talk to your doctor before receiving the injections to make sure you are a good candidate to get them.
 

Bone, connective tissue, and joints are all spaces that benefit from lumbar epidural injections. The results last from a few days to a few years and help restore range of motion through the spine, arms, and legs. If interested in learning more about corticosteroid injections, contact the staff at Virgin Islands Orthopedists and Medical Specialists. You may reach us at our Saint Thomas location at (340) 714-2845 and our St. Croix office at (340) 692-5000.

St Thomas

340-714-2845

St Croix

340-692-5000

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Saint Thomas

Monday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

7:00 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

St. Croix

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed