Home . Pain Management . Spine Epidural

Spine Epidural in Bakersfield & Newport Beach

Conditions and injuries that affect the spine are some of the leading causes of chronic and acute pain overall. At Paragon Health Group, we are committed to providing patients with the treatments and procedures necessary to not only improve their health but to provide symptom relief that can restore a sense of taking back control over one’s life. At our locations in Bakersfield and Newport Beach, we offer spine epidural injections for powerful pain relief, including cervical epidural, thoracic epidural, and lumbar epidural options.

What Is a Spine Epidural?

A spine epidural is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat pain caused by spinal disorders or issues. It involves injecting steroid medications into the epidural space of the patient’s spine to provide relief from pain by numbing or blocking the nerves in the affected area. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis and may provide immediate relief from symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, mobility limitations caused by pain, and more. At Paragon Health Group, we offer three core types of epidurals based on the location and cause of your pain: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.

SCHEDULE CONSULTATION

In many cases, an epidural injection is the first step in a broader treatment plan. By reducing pain in the spine, the treatment can allow patients to explore other treatment modalities, such as physical therapy, to fully address their concerns. The main conditions we use spine epidural injections for include:

Sciatica
Disc conditions(herniated disc, degenerative disc disease)
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
And more

Cervical Epidural Injections

Cervical epidural injections are a type of spine epidural used to treat neck and arm pain caused by disc herniations, spinal stenosis, or other causes. This procedure can help reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and relieve painful symptoms without the need to resort to surgery. With this procedure, a steroid medication is injected into the cervical (neck) area to reduce and control local inflammation.

Thoracic Epidural Injections

Thoracic epidural injections are used to treat pain in the mid-back (thoracic) area, helping to reduce inflammation and provide relief from symptoms such as muscle spasms and pain originating from a pinched nerve or disc herniation.

Lumbar Epidural Injections

Lumbar epidural injections are used to treat lower back pain and sciatica, two of the most common concerns patients present with in regard to back pain. This type of spine epidural is also used to reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and provide relief from painful symptoms.

Benefits of Spine Epidural Injections

Pain relief: Spine epidurals are an effective treatment for pain caused by a variety of conditions, such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis.
Improved mobility: The procedure can help reduce inflammation and improve mobility in the affected area, which allows patients to engage in supplementary treatments like physical therapy or targeted exercises.
Minimally invasive: Though there is an injection, that is the only invasive aspect of the treatment. No incisions or scarring are involved in epidural treatments.
Reliable relief: Spine epidural injections may provide reliable pain relief, allowing the patient to return to normal activities and regain an improved quality of life for days to weeks following injections.

Signs You Are a Candidate for Epidural Injections

You have been suffering from chronic back or neck pain for at least three months.
You have tried other treatments, such as physical therapy and medications, but haven’t found relief.
Your doctor has determined that your pain is caused by an underlying condition that can be treated with epidural injections.
Your pain is caused by issues in the thoracic, cervical, or lumbar areas of the spine.

What Is the Treatment Like?

The doctor will start by performing a physical exam to rule out any other underlying conditions. Then, the patient will receive local anesthesia and be placed in the appropriate position for the injection, and we only begin once we are sure you are fully comfortable and ready. The injection itself is usually done with fluoroscopy (a type of imaging scan) to ensure accuracy, reducing the risk of the treatment overall. Once the epidural space is injected with medication, the procedure is complete. In many cases, the entire process takes well under half an hour, but the results can last for days to weeks and beyond. The process can vary slightly across thoracic epidurals, lumbar epidurals, and cervical epidurals, but overall it mostly remains the same.

How Long Is the Recovery?

Most patients experience immediate pain relief after the injection, though it can take up to a week for the full effects of the medication to take effect. During this time, patients are advised to limit their activities and get plenty of rest, though you do not specifically need complete downtime. Your specialist at Paragon Health Group will provide you with full information about your individual recovery instructions. For some patients, they may need to fully refrain from activity for a few days, while others may engage in light activity, depending on their condition and treatment modality.

What Results Can I Expect?

It is important to remember that spinal epidural injections do not cure conditions, but they are still no less valuable in how they provide powerful symptom relief. However, results vary depending on the person and underlying condition, though when performed correctly, spine epidural injections are highly and consistently effective in reducing pain and inflammation. Additionally, many patients experience improved mobility and long-term relief from their symptoms. In some cases, multiple injections may be needed to achieve maximum results, and patients may require follow-up care to ensure continued symptom relief.

Schedule Your Visit Today!

If you are living with chronic back or neck pain, spine epidural injections at Paragon Health Group in Bakersfield and Newport Beach may be your solution. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about how spine epidurals can help manage your pain! With options including cervical epidurals, thoracic epidurals, and lumbar epidurals, we have an option for a range of patient concerns. Call us or use our online form to book your visit and take a step toward rediscovering a life without chronic pain.