Spinal & Epidural Steroid Injections Back Pain Management | Epoch St Ives
Spinal and epidural steroid injections at Epoch Medical Imaging, St Ives. CT-guided precision for back and neck pain. Serving the North Shore — Turramurra, Pymble, Gordon.
What Is a Spinal Steroid (Epidural) Injection and When Is It Used?
A spinal steroid injection — commonly called an epidural steroid injection (ESI) — delivers corticosteroid medication into or near the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. It is used to reduce inflammation around compressed or irritated nerves — providing targeted pain relief for back and leg symptoms or neck and arm symptoms caused by nerve root irritation.
When a spinal steroid injection is typically recommended:
– Disc herniation (slipped disc) causing nerve root pain — leg pain (sciatica) or arm pain from a cervical disc
– Spinal canal stenosis causing nerve root compression and resulting leg or arm pain
– Nerve root inflammation from degenerative changes in the spine
– Post-surgical nerve root irritation
Important context: Epidural steroid injections are a pain management tool — they can provide meaningful relief that allows rehabilitation and physiotherapy to progress more effectively. They are not a surgical procedure, do not repair the disc or bone, and are most effective as part of a broader management plan guided by your GP or specialist. At Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives, spinal injections are performed under CT guidance for precise, safe delivery.
Lumbar vs Cervical Epidural: Treating Lower Back vs Neck Pain
Spinal injections are tailored to the region of the spine causing your symptoms — and the approach differs depending on whether the problem is in the lumbar (lower) or cervical (neck) spine.
Lumbar epidural injections are more commonly performed and are one of the most frequently requested spinal pain management procedures. Cervical epidural injections are performed for neck and arm pain, but require additional precision given the proximity to the cervical spinal cord — CT guidance at Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives ensures the highest level of accuracy and safety.
Facet Joint Injections for Spinal Arthritis
Facet joints are the small paired joints at the back of the spine that guide movement between vertebrae. Like other joints in the body, they can become arthritic — causing back or neck pain that is often worse with extension and twisting, and frequently associated with morning stiffness.
What a facet joint injection involves:
– A small amount of corticosteroid (and often local anaesthetic) is injected directly into or around the facet joint under CT guidance.
– The local anaesthetic component provides rapid onset of pain relief — if the pain resolves significantly after injection, this confirms that the facet joint is the primary pain generator (a diagnostic as well as therapeutic purpose).
– The corticosteroid component provides more sustained anti-inflammatory benefit.
– Benefit typically lasts weeks to months and can be repeated when needed.
Facet joint injections are a well-established treatment for facet-mediated back and neck pain — providing targeted relief for this specific component of spinal pain. At Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives, facet joint injections are performed under CT guidance across the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine.
How to Prepare for a Spinal Steroid Injection
A spinal steroid injection at Epoch Medical Imaging requires careful preparation to ensure both safety and the best possible outcome.
Key preparation steps:
– Blood thinning medications: Warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, and clopidogrel must be stopped for a specified period before spinal injections. Your GP will advise the appropriate cessation period — do not stop blood thinners without medical guidance.
– Aspirin: Low-dose aspirin (75–100mg daily) can usually be continued for most spinal injections — your referring doctor will advise.
– Fasting: Fasting for 4 hours before the injection is recommended for most spinal procedures.
– Bring a driver: You will need someone to drive you home — you should not drive on the day of your spinal injection.
– Medications to take: Continue all other regular medications normally, including blood pressure medication and other cardiac medications.
Our team at Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives will provide written preparation instructions specific to your type of spinal injection when you book on (02) 9129 6999.
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