EPIDURAL STEROIDS

Course overview

EPIDURAL STEROIDS INJECTIONS (ESI) HAVE BEEN UTILIZED FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAIN DUE TO LUMBAR DISC INJURIES SINCE THE 1950S. THEY ARE FREQUENTLY USED IN THE TREATMENT OF RADICULAR PAIN WHICH IS A NEUROPATHIC PAIN SYNDROME ALONG THE SENSORY DISTRIBUTION OF A DERMATOME OF ONE OR MORE SPINAL NERVES. TYPICALLY, THE PAIN IS DUE TO NERVE ROOT IRRITATION FROM MECHANICAL COMPRESSION BY AN INTERVERTEBRAL HERNIATED DISC AND RESULTANT INFLAMMATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF EPIDURAL STEROIDS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN.