design luxury house: Epidural For Back Pain

Kamis, 22 November 2012

Epidural For Back Pain

Epidural steroid injections contain corticosteroids, which mimic the effects of the hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone. When prescribed in doses that exceed the natural levels of these hormones, corticosteroids reduce inflammation around the irritated nerves. This can help relieve pain, although only temporarily.

Epidural steroid injections are usually limited to just a few a year because there's a chance these drugs might weaken your spinal bones and nearby muscles. Steroid injections also suppress the body's natural hormone balance and can lead to adrenal insufficiency, a serious medical condition. Delaying repeat injections allows your body to return to its normal balance. The risk of these side effects may increase with the number of steroid injections you receive and the dose given in each injection.

It's important to carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of long-term epidural steroid injections. If you're in pain between epidural steroid injections, you might ask your doctor about other treatment options for back pain.