Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar Interlaminar and Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections: What Patients Should Know

Pain that travels from the neck into the arm, or from the low back into the leg, may be a sign of irritation or inflammation around a spinal nerve. In this episode of Chronic Pain Tips for Patients, Dr. Yuri C. Martins explains interlaminar epidural steroid injections, a common procedure used to treat selected patients with radicular pain, also called sciatica.This episode explains what the epidural space is, what “interlaminar” means, how cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and caudal epidural injections differ, and why imaging guidance is used during the procedure. Dr. Martins also discusses what patients can realistically expect from an epidural steroid injection, including why the goal is not to “fix” a disc herniation, but to reduce inflammation around irritated nerves and improve function.The episode also reviews important risks and complications, including temporary pain increase, headache, dural puncture, bleeding, infection, nerve injury, steroid-related risks, contrast reactions, and radiation exposure. Special attention is given to why patients must tell their pain doctor about blood thinners, diabetes, infections, allergies, pregnancy, prior spine surgery, and previous reactions to injections.This episode is designed to help chronic pain patients understand the procedure, ask better questions, and feel more prepared before discussing epidural steroid injections with their healthcare team.To learn more about Dr. Yuri C. Martins, visit:https://www.ycmartins.com/