Disc Herniation & Radiculopathy
Disc material and inflammation may irritate a cervical, thoracic, or lumbar nerve root, producing radiating pain, tingling, or numbness.
Epidural Steroid Injections • San Diego County
Epidural Steroid Injections in San Diego
An epidural steroid injection is an outpatient, image-guided procedure that places anti-inflammatory medication near an irritated spinal nerve root.
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Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm - Call Your Care Team(858) 571-3630
Conditions it may treat
When an Epidural May Help
The clearest role is radicular pain supported by the history, examination, and imaging, not nonspecific back pain alone.
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing may cause arm or leg pain, heaviness, or reduced walking tolerance. Injection may reduce inflammation but cannot widen the canal.
Degenerative Foraminal Narrowing
Arthritis and disc-height loss can narrow a nerve exit, sometimes producing a consistent radicular pattern.
Persistent Postsurgical Nerve Pain
Selected patients may be considered after imaging and evaluation exclude instability, infection, major recurrent compression, or another cause.
Is it right for you?
Symptoms That May Point to It
A clinician looks for a nerve-root pattern and for functional limitations that may improve if inflammation is reduced.
- Pain Traveling from the Neck into an Arm or from the Back into a Leg
- Burning, Shooting, Stabbing or Electric Nerve Pain
- Tingling or Numbness in a Consistent Area
- Pain Aggravated by Spinal Position, Coughing or Straining
- Leg Symptoms with Standing or Walking from Stenosis
- Sleep, Work or Rehabilitation Limited by Radicular Pain
Your first visit
How Candidacy Is Evaluated
The evaluation confirms a treatable radicular diagnosis and reviews whether injection risk is acceptable.
History & Goals
Your clinician reviews where symptoms begin, whether pain travels, how long it has been present, and how it affects walking, work, sleep and daily activity.
Physical Examination
Strength, sensation, reflexes, movement, gait and nerve-tension signs help distinguish joint, disc, nerve, muscle and other potential pain sources.
Imaging & Records
MRI, CT or X-rays are reviewed when results are likely to clarify anatomy or change the plan. Prior procedure reports may also be important.
Health Review
Blood thinners, diabetes, allergies, infection risk, pregnancy and other conditions are discussed so benefits and risks can be considered safely.
What to expect
The Procedure, Step by Step
Cleveland Clinic notes that a lumbar epidural injection takes 15 to 30 minutes in most cases.
Preparation
Fasting and medication instructions are confirmed, monitoring is applied, and the injection area is cleaned and numbed.
Fluoroscopic Guidance
The physician advances a needle toward the intended epidural space while viewing the anatomy in real time.
Contrast Confirmation
Contrast verifies epidural spread and helps detect incorrect placement before steroid is injected.
Medication Delivery
Corticosteroid, often with local anesthetic or saline, is delivered slowly using the lowest effective dose.
Observation
You are monitored for weakness, numbness, dizziness or other concerns and receive discharge instructions.
Realistic expectations
What an Epidural Can Do
An epidural steroid injection may provide temporary symptom reduction and a rehabilitation window. Some people improve substantially, some partially, and some not at all.
- Targets Spinal Nerve Inflammation Under Imaging Guidance
- May Reduce Selected Arm or Leg Radicular Pain
- Can Make Activity More Tolerable
- Uses an Outpatient, Minimally Invasive Technique
- Provides Response Information for Future Treatment Planning
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Your care team
Board-Certified Pain Physicians
California Pain Consultants physicians care for patients across our four San Diego County clinics.
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Insurance
We Accept Most Insurances
Coverage varies by individual plan and treatment. Our team confirms your specific benefits before you’re seen.
- Aetna
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Don’t See Your Plan?
Insurance networks change regularly. Call us and we’ll check your plan in a few minutes.
Your questions
Before Your First Visit
How long does an epidural steroid injection take to work?
Epidural steroid injections usually start working within two to seven days, according to Cleveland Clinic. The local anesthetic may give brief numbness right away, and some people notice more pain for two to three days before the steroid takes effect. Track your arm or leg pain, walking, and sleep so your care team can judge the response.
How long does relief from an epidural injection last?
Relief varies from person to person. Cleveland Clinic reports that relief may last for weeks to months but rarely up to a year, and that approximately half of people experience temporary relief. The injection works best when it opens a window for physical therapy and activity, which may help extend the benefit.
Does an epidural steroid injection hurt?
Most people feel pressure and brief discomfort rather than severe pain. The skin is numbed before the needle is placed, and the procedure is performed under imaging guidance. Some soreness at the site or a short-term pain flare can occur afterward. Ask your care team whether light sedation is appropriate for your approach and health history.
Can I drive after an epidural steroid injection?
Plan to have someone drive you home. Local anesthetic can temporarily affect sensation, strength, or balance in the arms or legs, and sedation affects alertness. Avoid driving or risky activity until sensation and strength are back to normal, and follow the specific discharge instructions your care team provides.
What if the epidural injection does not help?
If an injection does not help, that result is useful information. Your pain specialist may reconsider the pain source, review imaging, or try a different approach. Other options may include facet treatment, adhesiolysis, nerve-pain medication, neuromodulation, or referral for a surgical opinion when nerve compression or weakness is significant.
Do I need a referral?
Most plans we work with don’t require a referral to see us. Some HMO plans do. When you book, our team checks your plan’s rules and tells you exactly what’s needed.
What if my plan isn’t listed?
Call us at (858) 571-3630. Insurance networks change regularly, and our team can check your specific plan in a few minutes.
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