Epidural Steroid Injection Topic Guide

Lumbar disc disease refers to three degenerative diseases that may cause low back pain: internal disc disruption, degenerative disc disease, and segmental instability. Symptoms include lower back pain that lasts more than six weeks, pain that worsens over time and with motion, and pain in the buttocks and thighs. Treatment may involve medications, surgery, or physical therapy.

The portion of the spine contained within the neck is referred to as the cervical spine. That's the site for injuries known as neck strain. Symptoms include pain and possible numbness, dizziness, stiffness, and tingling. Treatment may involve taking NSAIDs, getting bed rest, and applying heat to the area.

An abnormal, injured, or degenerated vertebral disc that has protruded against nerve fibers is called a slipped, prolapsed, ruptured, or herniated disc. A slipped disc may cause symptoms such as pain down the back of the leg (sciatica), numbness or weakness. Treatment may include applying hot or cold packs, limiting activity, taking pain relievers, stretching, performing strengthening exercises, physical therapy, massage, or surgery.

Spinal stenosis is defined as an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is degenerative arthritis. The types of spinal stenosis depend on the location along the spine, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar. Symptoms are generally experienced to the areas of the body that is regulated by that portion of the nerves in the spinal chord. Possible symptoms include worsening balance, falling, dropping objects, difficulty buttoning buttons or picking up small coins, loss of control of the bowel and/or bladder, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness along the path of the nerve being compressed, myelopathy (spinal cord compression), weakness or cramping in the arms and hands, and weakness or cramping in the legs and feet, particularly progressively with walking and being relieved with resting. Treatment for spinal stenosis is generally surgery.