ESI Injections

How It Works

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a combination of a corticosteroid with a local anesthetic pain relief medicine. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory medicines used to relieve pain. The local anesthetic medicine helps give you immediate pain relief. Corticosteroid medicines take longer to have an effect.

Within the spinal canal , an ESI is injected into the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots (epidural space). The injection does not go into the membrane (thecal sac) that contains the spinal cord and nerve roots.

ESIs sometimes are used to treat pain and inflammation from pressure on the spinal cord. ESI is usually not tried unless symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis have not responded to other nonsurgical treatment.


Why It Is Used



How Well It Works

Lumbar spinal stenosis may cause pain that radiates from the lower spine to the hips or down a leg. Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are used for leg pain rather than back pain from lumbar spinal stenosis.

Steroid injections can help relieve pain for a short time (2 to 3 weeks) in some people. Experts do not know how well injections work over longer periods of time.1 Some people get enough pain relief that they can delay or no longer need surgery.
