Can Injections Help My Sciatica Pain?

Sciatica, any pain that radiates from the back down into the leg, affects about 40% of Americans at some point in their lives. This happens when pressure on the sciatic nerve root causes pain, numbness, and weakness. These sensations travel from the lower back through the buttocks and down the outside of the leg to the foot.

At Interventional Pain Center, Dr. James Stephens offers pain management services, including the diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. Epidural steroid injections treat several nerve-related conditions — can they help with sciatica pain? Here’s what Dr. Stephens says.

More about the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve is the longest in your body, extending from its root at the L4-L5 vertebral junction in the lumbar (lower back) spine and heading out from the spinal canal toward the lower body. The nerve splits into two branches at the tailbone, each traveling down one side of the body and extending into the foot.

Sciatica causes

Many different problems can cause sciatica, all of which put pressure on, or “pinch,” the nerve or nerve root. Potential causes can be lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes bone to rub against the nerve, and a narrowing of the opening (foramen) at the L4-L5 junction, which puts pressure on the nerve as it exits the canal.

The two most common causes, though, come with aging. The first is herniated discs. Between the bony vertebrae of the spine lie flexible discs, which act as cushions that prevent the bones from rubbing together and disperse the force placed on the spine with movement.

As intervertebral discs age, they lose moisture and can flatten or rupture. A herniation allows the inner disc gel to push into the spinal canal and onto the nerve root, leading to sciatica symptoms.

The second cause is bone spurs. As protective cartilage around the bone breaks down due to a lifetime of wear and tear, bony growths can develop. Not only do they allow the vertebrae to rub against each other, but they also push into the canal, pinching the sciatic nerve root.

What are epidural steroid injections (ESIs)?

An ESI is an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine — a steroid or corticosteroid — directly into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. 

When the injection goes into your lower back, it’s called a lumbar ESI. The primary reason for lumbar ESIs is to manage chronic pain caused by irritation and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots due to certain conditions or injuries, such as sciatica.

During an ESI procedure, Dr. Stephens injects a steroid along with a numbing agent into the epidural space. The space surrounding your spinal cord, like a sleeve, contains fat, spinal nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The steroid targets the nerves, reducing both swelling and the pressure on the nerve root.

Lumbar ESIs most often lead to temporary pain relief lasting three months or more, but some people may experience little relief from the injection. Dr. Stephens takes a complete medical history, performs a physical and neurological exam, and evaluates any imaging studies to determine if you’re a good candidate.

If you’re struggling with the radiating pain of sciatica, Interventional Pain Center can help with epidural steroid injections. Call our office at 405-759-8407 or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephens today.