When epidural steroid injection (ESI) is performed to relieve pain, most people would never think of the actual injection process as being painful. In reality, it can be quite excruciating and may even leave you in tears. The reason for this is that ESI is a local anesthetic—meaning it numbs the area being injected. However, the moment the needle penetrates the skin, the local anesthetic wears off and the pain from the injection becomes unbearable. If you’re scheduled for ESI treatment and are fearful about what might happen, don’t worry. We’ve created this blog post to outline some common fears and how to deal with them. We also provide information on how to prepare for ESI and what to expect after the procedure is completed.
The Basics of Epidural Steroid Injection
If you’ve had an epidural steroid injection, you may be wondering why the pain is worse after the injection. What’s going on?
The epidural steroid injection blocks nerve signals from reaching your spinal cord. Without these signals, the pain impulses that normally would cause you to feel pain are blocked. The blocking of these impulses can make your pain worse in the short term.
This effect is temporary, but it can last for hours or even days after the injection. You may find that your pain is more intense and widespread than usual when you first wake up from an epidural steroid injection. The intensity of your pain will usually decrease over time as your body adjusts to the new situation. However, it is important to keep in mind that this increase in pain might not go away completely and that you might have to deal with this increased level of discomfort for a while after your surgery.
What Happens After Epidural Steroid Injection
Epidural steroid injections are a common type of pain relief medicine. Epidural steroid injections reduce the amount of pain you feel by blocking nerve signals from your brain to your spinal cord.
There are a few different types of epidural steroids, and each works a little differently. The most common type is called bupivacaine/ fentanyl. This injection combination works by blocking nerve signals from your brain to your spinal cord, which reduces the amount of pain you feel.
Epidural steroid injections can work quickly to relieve your pain, but they won’t work for everyone. Epidural steroid injections may not be effective if:
-You have a severe headache or fever
-The pain is very severe
-You have blood clots in your veins or heart problems
How to Avoid Pain After Epidural Steroid Injection
Epidural steroid injections are effective for relieving pain from certain types of back or neck pain. However, the injections can also cause significant pain and discomfort. Here are four tips to avoid pain after an epidural steroid injection:
1. Wait until the pain has subsided before getting up. It may take several hours for the sensation to dissipate completely.
2. Try not to move around too much right after the injection. This will aggravate the pain and make it worse.
3. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and reduce inflammation.
4. Apply a cold pack or ice to the area immediately following the injection to reduce swelling and relieve any pain or discomfort associated with that area