The Difference Between Epidural Steroid Injections and Nerve Blocks

Lower back pain (LBP) and other forms of chronic pain plague both women and men. As the population increases, more and more people suffer LBP: About 452 million around the world, up more than 50% since 1990.

If you’re among those who suffer from LBP or other forms of chronic pain, you don’t care much about statistics. You just want relief.

You’ve likely heard about nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections. But which would be better for your pain, and why? 

Expert osteopath Dr. John East and our team at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine in Addison, Texas, offer several types of nerve blocks and injections for pain control. Dr. East evaluates your pain severity and symptoms, conducts a thorough exam, including tests, and provides you with a diagnosis and customized treatment plan.

So, which would benefit you more: An epidural or a nerve block? The following blog gives some clarification.

An epidural brings generalized relief

Epidural steroid injections are a type of nerve block that’s administered in the epidural space surrounding your spinal cord. The epidural space isn’t actually empty space: It’s packed with connective tissue, fat, blood vessels, and nerves.

Your practitioner injects the space near the nerves causing your pain. The steroids and anesthetic in the solution are anti-inflammatory. This reduces swelling in the tissues in the epidural space, alleviating pressure on your adjacent nerves.

Even though epidural injections are associated with alleviating the pain of childbirth, they can be used for a variety of pain conditions. The pain relief can impact a large area, such as your legs, lower back, or abdomen.

In one study comparing epidural nerve blocks with selective nerve-root blocks, pain was reduced in both groups by about 50%. However, those with selective nerve-root injections experienced relief for about six months, while those who underwent epidurals had continued relief at one year. 

A selective nerve block is targeted

In addition to an epidural nerve block, we can administer a steroid injection directly into the nerves that trigger your pain. These nerve blocks also bring relief. They’re particularly good for localized pain, such as:

• Morton’s neuroma
• Other finger pain
• Eye pain
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Facet joint pain
• Knee pain
• Broken ribs
• Pelvic pain
• Upper body pain
• Arm pain
• Facial pain

Selective nerve blocks have a second purpose that’s also very important for your long-term comfort. They can help us identify a particular nerve or set of nerves for other procedures.

For instance, if you opt for radiofrequency nerve ablation, which interferes with the signals that irritated nerves send, we must verify which nerve to target. We first administer a selective nerve block to the proposed nerve. If you no longer feel pain, we know that’s the nerve to treat.

All nerve blocks help you heal

No matter which type of nerve block you and your medical practitioner choose, each has a dual purpose. First, it alleviates your pain so you can comfortably return to your normal activities. Second, by reducing inflammation and taking pressure off your nerves, your nerves can heal, which also reduces pain.

You don’t have to decide beforehand which type of nerve block injection or nerve block therapy will be best for your pain. Dr. East makes his recommendations based on a physical exam, tests, and pain scale. 

Nerve blocks are simple

Nerve blocks are done in our office and don’t take long to administer. After you change into a medical gown, we cleanse the area to be injected with an antiseptic.

We position you on the exam table so Dr. East can clearly visualize the treatment area. He then administers an anesthetic to ensure your comfort. Dr. East uses an ultrasound or X-ray to guide the needle to the correct position.

After your nerve block, you wait about 30 minutes for the medication to take effect. You’re then free to go home. Or, if you’re going to have an ablation or other procedure, we prep you for that.

You may feel immediate relief with a nerve block, and that relief could last for weeks, months, or years. You may also need several treatments; response varies by individual. 

Are you ready to send your pain to the background and feel like yourself again? Contact us for an epidural or other type of nerve block procedure by calling our office today at 972-380-0000 or requesting an appointment online.