Epidural Blockade: Instant Relief from Back Pain

Acute pain that “shoots” from the lower back to the leg (or from the neck to the arm), numb fingers, and inability to straighten up are conditions that put life on hold. Most often, the cause is a herniated intervertebral disc or stenosis, which severely compress the nerve root. Ordinary pain relievers or ointments are powerless in such a situation, as they simply do not reach the deep focus of inflammation.

To quickly and effectively return you to a normal life without pain and without complex surgery, specialists at St. Luke’s Clinic use the “gold standard” of world medicine — epidural steroid blockade.

What is an epidural blockade and how does it work?

This is not just a “painkiller injection into the muscle.” This is a high-precision medical procedure during which the doctor injects a special “cocktail” of drugs (a powerful anti-inflammatory hormone-corticosteroid and a local anesthetic) directly into the epidural space — the gap around the spinal cord and nerve roots.

What effect does the procedure have?

• The medication goes directly to the epicenter of the problem, bypassing the stomach and liver.
• The anesthetic instantly “turns off” acute pain.
• The corticosteroid powerfully relieves swelling from the compressed nerve and washes out proteins that provoke inflammation. The nerve, freed from swelling, stops hurting.

For which diagnoses does the blockade help?

Our vertebrologists and pain management specialists prescribe epidural blockade for the following conditions:

• Herniated and bulging intervertebral discs, accompanied by severe radicular pain.
• Sciatica (radiculitis): inflammation of the sciatic nerve (burning and pulling pain along the entire back surface of the leg).
• Spinal canal stenosis: age-related narrowing of the canal, causing weakness in the legs when walking.
• Facet syndrome and spondyloarthrosis: inflammation of the small joints of the spine.
• Acute pain after back injuries or a history of shingles.

Safety first: why don’t we perform blockades “blindly”?

Many patients are afraid of this procedure, fearing nerve damage. In public hospitals, injections into the back are often done “blindly” (by touch), which can indeed be ineffective or risky.

At St. Luke’s Clinic, safety is guaranteed by equipment. All epidural blockades are performed in a modern operating room under continuous X-ray guidance (C-arm) or ultrasound navigation. The doctor sees every millimeter of needle advancement on the monitor and injects a contrast agent to be 100% sure that the medication envelops the affected nerve, and the spinal cord is completely safe.

How is the procedure performed?

The manipulation is very comfortable and does not require general anesthesia.

1. You lie on your stomach on a special table. The doctor treats your back with an antiseptic and performs local anesthesia of the skin and deep tissues (this feels like a regular injection).
2. Under X-ray navigation, a thin needle is guided to the inflamed nerve. You may feel a slight pressure during the injection of the medication.
3. The entire procedure takes 15 to 30 minutes.
4. After the manipulation, you rest in a comfortable ward for 1-2 hours, after which the doctor allows you to go home independently.

How quickly will relief come?

In most cases, the pain noticeably weakens or disappears completely within the first hours after the procedure (due to the action of the anesthetic). The maximum anti-inflammatory therapeutic effect develops within 2-5 days. Depending on the complexity of the disease, the effect of one blockade can last from several months to a year, allowing you to calmly undergo a course of rehabilitation (therapeutic exercises) without suffering.

Do not tolerate pain that limits your life. Make an appointment for a consultation with the specialists at St. Luke’s Clinic — we know how to quickly restore your freedom of movement!