Midtown Manhattan Physiotherapists Explain The Advantages Of Epidural Steroid Injections
Back pain can make things miserable for a lot of people. It can be situated in the middle or lower back and even radiate down your leg. But what can you do about it? You have tried rest and exercise and have even shed some pounds. It still hurts.
If other things are not working, you might want to consider getting an epidural steroid injection (ESI). It could help tremendously with your back pain and help you get back to a sense of normalcy.
Read on as Midtown Manhattan physiotherapists explain the advantages of epidural steroid injections.
Integral Role In Sciatica & Lower Back Pain Treatments
Lower back pain and sciatica is not fun – it can remind you of how often you use your lower back to do things. Having to deal with it all day and night can really reduce one’s quality of life. Fortunately, an ESI can help with that and help you regain your mobility and ability to walk around pain free.
The efficiency of the injection depends on what the cause is for your sciatica and lower back pain. If it’s due to inflamed tissue, joints, or nerves, then the injection can be of benefit.
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections: Improve Mobility & Function In The Lower Back & Legs
One reason that people get these injections is that they are trying to avoid having surgery on the area. Going under the knife should be the last resort… and the injection can give them a chance to be able to get movement in the area. There are three types insertion for the injection:
Interlaminar
This spot is right above the pelvis bone and the needle goes straight in to get to the specific nerve root.
Transforaminal
This is in the back… and it is not quite as precise. You might not get all of the steroid.
Caudal
This goes under the pelvis and is considered the safest way to do the injections.
When you get the injection, you will likely be given a local anesthetic but will be awake throughout the procedure.
Physiotherapy Combined With Epidural Steroid Injections: Effective Rehabilitation
You can see a physiotherapist who can do other things along with the injection – like stretching and exercise, muscle manipulation, and treatments like heat, cold, or ultrasound.
One not-so-obvious benefit with physiotherapy is that you might feel better in terms of your emotional state and your overall quality of life. You know that you have someone in your corner while you are working on getting back to where you were before… and that can play a tremendous part in your rehabilitation. That can carry over for any other part of your life.
There are no guarantees with this, though. The effects can last a long time or they can be very fleeting. It all depends on several factors, including:
- How experienced the person doing the injection is: This can be a big problem if they inject the wrong area – though they are generally guided by intravenous dye to lead them to the right area
- Whether there are any complications: They include infection or fluid leaking out, which can cause headaches when one is standing or sitting, and abscesses
- Other underlying conditions: These might prevent the steroid injection from being as effective
Common side effects also include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Flushing of the Face
- Possible Fainting
These side effects are usually few and far between. When one has an epidural steroid injection, they should usually refrain from taking a bath or going to a spa or sauna for at least a few days. As far as resuming physical activities goes, they should wait a week before resuming those and they should ease into that bit by bit.
An epidural steroid injection is typically done after things like rest or physical therapy have not worked. While they can work, it is more on a case-by-case basis and people can have different results. There are reasons NOT to have it, including if the patient is pregnant or has diabetes mellitus. If one has cancer or a bleeding disorder then they should not have this done – they need to talk about other options with their doctor.
Contact Qualified Physical Therapists In Midtown Manhattan, NY
Are you having back pain? You can contact qualified physical therapists in Midtown Manhattan, NY. Empire Physical Therapy and Pain Management can help you with your problem. They also have a Wall Street office. Give them a call today to make an appointment: 646-665-7109 or 631-250-2752.
Empire Physical Medicine & Pain Management
7 W 45th St floor 9,
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (646) 665-7109
Website: https://manhattanpainrelief.com
