Epidural Steroid Injection

Nerve root irritation a condition often a result of a car accident injury can be treated in part by epidural steroid injection. In this video, Dr. Marvin Chang of Texas Pain Consultant Associates in Southwest Houston, Texas near Sugarland discusses nerve root irritation. Dr. Chang demonstrates how nerves can be irritated during automobile or car accidents. The two most likely causes of nerve root irritation are: 1) inflammation when the nerve is mechanically compressed by either a disk herniation or by bone or 2) chemical irritation where substances from inside a herniated disk get exposed to the nerve and cause direct inflammation. Either way, nerve root irritation can cause local back pain as well as radiating or shooting pain down the arms or legs.

Treatment for nerve root irritation includes over-the-counter or prescription medication often coupled with physical therapy or chiropractic care. If those fail to work, Dr. Chang often uses an epidural steroid injection. An epidural steroid injection is a very precise injection delivering medication directly to the irritated nerve root to help reduce pain and inflammation. Dr. Chang can use 1 of 2 approaches in the lower back depending upon how long you have been hurt and how much leg pain or sciatica you have. With either approach, the injection works to reduce the local inflammation and allow the physical therapy exercises to be more successful in treating the car accident injury. Typically, epidural steroid injections performed in a series of 1 to 3 injections at a time often time spaced out 3-4 weeks apart from each other. If you have had a car accident injury contact one of our doctors immediately.

See Dr. Chang’s profile here.