Call NowCan Steroid Injections Help with Accident Pain?
If you’re in a car accident, you should seek medical attention right away, regardless of whether you feel pain or not. Pain and discomfort can present themselves days, weeks, or even months after an accident, which is why catching any problems early is so important. Depending on your injury, your medical provider may recommend a variety of treatments, especially if you’re in pain. One option is an Epidural Steroid Injection, a simple injection that reduces inflammation and pain. Here’s what you need to know about this simple, effective procedure.
What Are Epidural Steroid Injections?
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs) are minimally invasive medical procedures that give patients relief from arm, back, leg, and neck pain that can occur after a car accident. Administered by a medical professional, these injections supply medicine to the epidural space between the bone and spinal nerves, flushing away proteins that cause painful swelling and inflammation.
While an ESI isn’t a cure for pain, it opens the door to long-term pain relief. These injections provide enough pain relief for patients to move forward with their rehabilitation program, so they can start living a pain-free life.
Relief from a single injection can last from one week to one year, but most patients feel benefits for up to one month. Injections can be administered every two weeks if your medical provider deems it helpful.
Candidates for Steroid Injections
Not every patient is a candidate for an ESI. They’re typically reserved for patients who experience chronic or acute pain associated with spinal nerves that have been damaged, pinched, or pressured during a traumatic event like a car accident. If your doctor has determined you’re suffering from one of the following symptoms after a car accident, an ESI may be right for you:
- Bone spurs on the spine
- Herniated, slipped, or deteriorating discs
- Injury to the vertebrae
- Spinal stenosis
The Typical ESI Procedure
ESIs can be administered by a range of medical professionals, from physicians to orthopedists, pain-management specialists to neurologists. They’re often performed in an outpatient facility with the help of fluoroscopy to verify the medication is reaching the patient’s target area. The injection usually isn’t painful since it contains a local anesthetic and corticosteroid—you should only feel slight pressure at the injection site.
The procedure lasts only a few minutes, and you’ll feel instant relief from pain. The anesthetic provides relief right away. while this wears off in a few hours, the corticosteroid reduces inflammation and provides total alleviation from pain within a day. Most patients can resume normal activities the day following the procedure.
Get Instant Relief from Pain with Steroid Injections
If your doctor has determined you can benefit from steroid injections, don’t hesitate to make your appointment with Impact Medical Group of Sarasota today. Our caring, licensed professionals are here to help you on your journey to a pain-free life. Call us today at (941) 222-1157 to schedule your free consultation!
