Brief Answer: Epidural injections are effective pain control Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for bringing your question to us. Let me see if I can give you some basic information about epidurals and that might help you decide if you like you doctors plan of action or not. An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a combination of a corticosteroid with a local anesthetic pain relief medicine. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory medicines. Relieving swelling and inflammation can take pressure off nerves and other soft tissues, which can relieve pain. The local anesthetic medicine helps give you immediate pain relief. Corticosteroid medicines take longer to have an effect. Within the spinal canal an ESI is injected into the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots (epidural space). ESIs sometimes are used to treat pain and inflammation from pressure on spinal nerve roots. ESI is usually not tried unless symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis have not responded to other nonsurgical treatment. Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, are usually done before you are given the injection. These tests are used to identify the exact location where nerve roots are being squeezed. During the injection, an X-ray machine (fluoroscope) is often used to guide placement of the needle. Why It Is Used An epidural steroid injection (ESI) may be tried when other nonsurgical treatments have failed to relieve severe leg pain from lumbar spinal stenosis. The corticosteroids in an ESI may help provide relief from leg pain by reducing swelling and inflammation. Local anesthetics help relieve pain but do not reduce inflammation. Lidocaine can also help relieve pain quickly, before the corticosteroid has taken effect. How Well It Works Lumbar spinal stenosis may cause pain that radiates from the lower spine to the hips or down the legs. Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are used for leg pain rather than back pain from lumbar spinal stenosis. Steroid injections may help relieve pain for a short time (2 to 3 weeks) in some people. Experts do not know how well injections work over longer periods of time.1 These injections may relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation but do not cure spinal stenosis. So. All in all. I don't have access to your medical records, so i can't see how bad the stenosis is or where it is. But I do believe that ESI is an effective therapy and I have used it in patients who have no need for surgery but they DO have chronic pain. The sciatic pain you are suffering from is a common indication for ESI. So I'm thinking that it should help. I hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

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Brief Answer: Physical therapy and Weightloss! Detailed Answer: YES! There is plenty of evidence that weight loss relieves back pain significantly! In my experience If you can shed at LEAST a total of 10% of your body weight you will see significant reduction in pain. But weight loss when you have back issues is a tricky thing. It requires both dietary modification as well as regular (let me stress that word.. REGULAR) exercise. Now the exercises you do should be aimed at strengthening your core muscles and pelvic muscles and they shouldn't make your existing back pain worse. To thread that needle I strongly recommend that you get your doctor to refer you to a good Physical Therapist. They can get you on the right track and then communicate their regime to your primary doctor. So.. Nutshell? Go for it! Get yourself set up for a regular exercise routine and diet regime so you can lose that weight and strengthen you muscles. Good luck with the injection. I hope it goes well for you. Feel free to follow-up with me about this or anything else afterwards. Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic Also, you have to make sure your primary doctor CLEARS you from a general standpoint before you embark on an exercise regime.

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Brief Answer: You're Welcome! Detailed Answer: You're Welcome! Good Luck and thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.com

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