Specialized Spine Care in Colorado Springs

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural Steroid Injections in Colorado Springs, CO

If chronic back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or nerve-related symptoms are limiting your daily activities, epidural steroid injections may provide effective, non-surgical relief. At Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, our experienced spine specialists offer epidural steroid injections to help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve mobility for patients throughout Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon, Fountain, Woodland Park, and surrounding Southern Colorado communities.

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to treat conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and nerve compression. By delivering powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area around the spinal nerves, these injections can help alleviate pain and support participation in physical therapy and rehabilitation programs.

At Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, we utilize advanced imaging guidance and individualized treatment plans to ensure precise, effective care. Our goal is to help you manage pain, improve function, and return to the activities you enjoy without unnecessary surgery whenever possible.

Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group

Spinal conditions can affect your neck, back, movement, and overall quality of life. Pain, stiffness, numbness, or weakness can make it difficult to work, exercise, sleep, or perform everyday activities.

CSOG provides comprehensive care for a wide range of conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Our specialists use a conservative-first approach whenever appropriate, with treatment options that may include physical therapy, medications, injections, and other nonsurgical treatments. When surgery is necessary, advanced surgical techniques may provide another option.

Your care begins with a thorough evaluation to understand the source of your symptoms and how they are affecting you. We then develop a treatment plan based on your condition, goals, and individual needs.

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Disease Overview

Degenerative conditions of the spine such as a herniated disc and spinal stenosis may compress associated spinal nerves and cause back pain. This pain or numbness may extend to the parts of the body that the nerve supplies such as hips, buttocks, and legs.

What is an Epidural Spinal Injection?

An epidural spinal injection is a non-surgical treatment option for relieving back pain. Your doctor usually suggests a non-surgical method to treat back pain, and epidural spinal injection is one of these preferences. In cases where you find no relief from this and other non-surgical methods, surgery is recommended.

What is the Epidural Spinal Injection Composed of?

Epidural spinal injections contain a strong anti-inflammatory agent called corticosteroid and an anesthetic for pain relief. It is not the same as epidural anesthesia given before childbirth to decrease labor pain.

Epidural injections are administered into the epidural space of the spine. The epidural space is the space between the outermost covering of the spinal cord (dura mater) and the wall of the spinal canal. It is approximately 5 mm wide and is filled with spinal nerve roots, fat and small blood vessels.

Indications for Epidural Steroid Injection

Pain management in different conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc herniation, and arthritis can be performed through epidural injection. An epidural spinal injection may be employed both for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons.

Diagnostic purpose: Medication is administered to determine the specific nerve root involved in the spinal problem.

Therapeutic purpose: Medication is administered for inducing short- or long-term relief from pain and inflammation.

It is to be noted that epidural spinal injection is not a curative intervention; rather, it is a treatment tool to reduce discomfort so that rehabilitation programs such as physical therapy may be well executed.

Procedure of Epidural Steroid Injection

Epidural spinal injection is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure involves the following steps:

• You will be taken to the pre-op area where trained nursing staff prepares you for the procedure by measuring your vitals and reviewing your medications. Blood sugar and coagulation status may also be checked if needed.
• You will then be taken to the procedure room and made to lie face down on a table.
• The injection site is then cleansed and an injection of a local numbing agent is administered in the area so that you don’t feel pain during the procedure.
• A thin hollow needle is then inserted into the epidural space, guided by fluoroscopic X-ray to place the needle in the correct position. This system provides real-time X-ray images of the position of the needle in the spine on a monitor for your surgeon to view.
• A contrast material is then injected through the accurately-placed hollow needle to confirm that the drug flows to the affected nerve when injected.
• When your doctor is satisfied with the position of the needle, the anesthetic drug and corticosteroid are injected through the same needle inserted in the spine.
• Finally, the needle is removed, and the injection site is covered with a dry, sterile bandage.

What can you Expect after Epidural Spinal Injection?

You may feel some pressure during the administration of the injection, but the procedure is generally painless. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes to complete. After the injection, you are advised not to drive or return to work. You should rest and avoid any vigorous activities. Your surgeon may give specific post-care instructions. Please follow the instructions to recover faster.

Recovery Time following Epidural Spinal Injection

Patients may feel numbness in the arms or legs just after the procedure along with other side effects related to the anesthetic component that usually settles down within 1-8 hours. Patients may continue to feel some back pain, epidural spinal injections take about 24-72 hours before showing their pain-relieving action. In some cases, if the desired effect is not obtained, then reinjection may be recommended. The standard guidelines for steroid injections state a maximum of 3 injections per year. In case no relief is obtained from spinal injection, then surgery is considered as the final option.

Risks and Complications following Epidural Spinal Injection

With any procedure, some risk factors will always be there. Likewise, epidural spinal injections have complications such as bleeding or infection at the injection site, pain during or after injection, post-injection headache, nerve injury, bladder dysfunction, fluid retention, respiratory arrest, epidural hematoma, and spinal cord infarction. Discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns prior to the procedure.

Why Choose Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group for Epidural Steroid Injections?

Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group is a trusted provider of comprehensive spine care and non-surgical pain management solutions in Southern Colorado. Our board-certified orthopaedic and spine specialists are committed to delivering personalized treatments designed to address the source of your pain and improve your quality of life.

Patients choose our practice because we offer:

• Experienced spine specialists with extensive expertise in spinal conditions
• Advanced fluoroscopic imaging guidance for precise injection placement
• Personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's condition and goals
• Comprehensive evaluation of back, neck, and nerve-related pain
• Minimally invasive alternatives to surgery when appropriate
• Collaborative rehabilitation and physical therapy recommendations
• Patient-centered care focused on long-term symptom relief
• Convenient access for patients throughout Colorado Springs and neighboring communities

Our team works closely with each patient to determine the most effective treatment strategy for lasting pain relief and improved spinal function.

Epidural Steroid Injections FAQs

Schedule an Epidural Steroid Injection Consultation in Colorado Springs

If back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or nerve compression symptoms are affecting your quality of life, the spine specialists at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group can help. We offer advanced diagnostic evaluations and personalized treatment plans, including epidural steroid injections, to help reduce pain and restore function.

Contact Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group today to schedule your consultation and learn whether epidural steroid injections may be right for you. We proudly serve patients throughout Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon, Fountain, Woodland Park, and surrounding Southern Colorado communities with expert spine care and non-surgical pain management solutions.