Ever wonder how a cortisone injection or epidural injection works?
Being a part of the PGA golf event at the Stonebrae Classic in Hayward this weekend, has given me the opportunity to discuss several questions about conditions that people are suffering with. An example is a gentleman who inquired about chiropractic treatment who experienced a severe low back condition or as he put it, “nightmare”. He had several accidents and injuries to his lower back over a 20 year span. His symptoms include sharp low back pain, pain radiating into his leg, hip and pelvis pain, difficulty walking, standing or sitting for long periods and a decreased range of motion in his back. He explained how his pain and limited motion was something he was accustomed to feeling but it did affect his lifestyle and therefore the quality of his life. Even though he has a love and passion for golf, he couldn’t play a full round of golf because of his pain. What an unfortunate way to live life!
I asked him what he did for pain management and treatment and he told me how he had several cortisone injections and was scheduled for an epidural next week at KAISER. Many people believe that cortisone injections and epidurals are treatment options for pain but it isn’t really a cure, instead it is a temporary mask of symptoms. Cortisone is a very powerful pain reliever that acts to attach to pain receptors in the nerve and help to decrease swelling. The pain firing signals get quiet for a period of time which allows a person to feel good and do more with their body. The actual cause of the injury and injury itself however is still present and often times gets worse as a person without pain continues to re-injure the joint due to lack of symptoms. This is why commonly after a cortisone injection wears off, the original pain not only returns but is intensified. Epidurals work the same way as cortisone.
Having pain silenced for a period of time might be of great benefit but what about the risks of further injury and the side effects to the injections?
The following are possible side effects of cortisone and epidural injections found at www.orthopedic.com:
- Infection: Very unusual (less that 0.5%), and usually avoided by using a sterile technique.
- Bleeding: Also unusual, and avoided by not performing this procedure on patients with bleeding disorders or those on blood thinning medication.
- Dural Tears: Caused by piercing the sac around the spinal nerves with the needle. This usually results in a headache.
- Increased Blood Sugar: Diabetics must carefully monitor their blood sugar after this or any other steroid injection.
Before jumping into getting a cortisone or epidural injection exercise other options that might be less invasive and also help to address the cause of the pain such as Chiropractic, Physical Therapy and maybe even Acupuncture.
For more information on this topic call me at (925)960-1960.
