Epidural Injection Specialist
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Pain & Anesthesia Care
Pain Management Physician & Physical Therapy Specialist located in New Brunswick, NJ
If you regularly experience back, arm, or leg pain and it doesn’t respond to conservative measures of care, like rest or over-the-counter painkillers, consider an epidural injection. At Pain & Anesthesia Care in New Brunswick, New Jersey, pain management physician Garen Gajian, MD, offers epidural injections on-site, providing quick and effective relief for musculoskeletal pain. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book a consultation online today.
Epidural Injection Q&A
What is an epidural injection?
An epidural injection is a minimally invasive treatment used to relieve back pain, leg pain, or arm pain. It involves your Pain & Anesthesia Care provider administering a dose of medication into the epidural space around your spinal cord.
Most epidural injections contain a combination of steroids, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory medications. Once the solution enters your body, it relieves swelling and inflammation in and around your nerve roots. This process relieves irritation and supports your body’s natural healing process.
What conditions can benefit from an epidural injection?
Pain & Anesthesia Care uses epidural injections to address chronic pain that doesn’t respond to physical therapy, rest, or oral medications. An epidural injection can alleviate pain caused by:
- Herniated discs
- Bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Back injuries
- Leg injuries
- Failed surgery
- Bone spurs
Epidural injections can also relieve pain due to nerve or vertebral injuries.
How do I prepare for an epidural injection?
Before your epidural injection appointment, your Pain & Anesthesia Care provider gives you a list of instructions. If you take prescription medications, vitamins, or supplements, your provider may ask you to make changes or stop taking them altogether.
You also need to fast several hours before your procedure to ensure you don’t experience nausea or an upset stomach. On the day of your appointment, try to arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment, providing plenty of time to fill out all the necessary paperwork.
What happens during an epidural injection appointment?
On the day of your epidural injection appointment, you change into a hospital gown and lie down on an exam table on your stomach or side. Your provider uses fluoroscopy or CT imaging to observe each injection site, ensuring accuracy.
Your provider prepares several syringes with corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medication. They administer these injections one by one, a process that’s relatively quick and painless. Once the medicine enters your body, it spreads through your epidural space easing pain, swelling, and discomfort.
Do epidural injections provide immediate relief?
Epidural injections don’t take effect right away. However, you should start to see an improvement in your symptoms within 24-48 hours. The length of time an epidural injection lasts depends on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Some people experience relief that lasts for days or weeks; others experience relief for several months.
To see if you’re a candidate for an epidural injection, schedule an appointment at Pain & Anesthesia Care. Call the office to speak with a team member or book a consultation online today.
