Beyond Fast Pain Relief: How to Make the Most of Your Epidural

Those who are familiar with epidural injections likely connect them with childbirth, a safe and effective way to manage the pain of labor and delivery. Epidurals take their name from the anatomy of your spine, and this pain management technique isn’t exclusive to giving birth. 

In fact, epidurals are a valuable part of the general pain management toolbox for a wide range of conditions and postsurgical applications. 

It’s a key offering at Midwest Innovative Pain Management in Dyer, Indiana. Dr. Maher Fattouh and nurse practitioner Anastasia Yorkman specialize in epidural treatment for a wide range of pain conditions originating in the spine. 

Epidural injections

The epidural space is filled with fatty tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic pathways surrounding the spinal cord contained by a tough, fibrous membrane called the dura. It’s this space that anesthetic epidural injections target. 

The big advantage of epidurals is their ability to block pain signals without putting a patient under, a big reason for their applications in the delivery room as well as for pain management treatments that won’t sedate you. 

Some of the conditions for which we use epidurals include: 

• Bulging or herniated discs
• Cancer
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Spinal arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis

Epidurals come in two types. Anesthetic epidurals use anesthetic medications to block pain signals, while epidural steroid injections (ESIs) use powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce tissue inflammation and add long-lasting pain relief. 

Anesthetic epidurals provide pain relief for hours, while ESIs effectively manage pain measured in weeks and months.

Epidural injections are safe and low-risk. Like any treatment that uses a needle, there’s a slight risk of infection. Also, advise our team if you have a blood-clotting disorder, so we can monitor for any unexpected bleeding. 

How to make the most of your epidural

ESIs usually work best as part of a multifaceted pain management plan. We may recommend combining epidural injections with other modalities like physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and other medications, often helping to minimize the need for drugs that carry harmful side effects. 

Reducing your need for oral painkillers is a primary benefit of ESI therapy. As well, the localized nature of epidural treatments directs medication where it’s needed, not throughout your body as with oral drugs. 

Long-lasting control of pain helps to make your days physically and mentally easier, improving your overall quality of life. 

Talk to us to find out if epidural injections are a good idea for your personal pain plan. Contact us at Midwest Innovative Pain Management, online or by phone, to schedule your consultation today.