When Should I get an ESI – Epidural Steroid Injection?

Dr. Sheena Bhuva, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist at Texas Back Institute talks about ESI (Epidural Steroid Injections) and when to have one as part of your spine treatment. Dr. Bhuva describes the treatment for radicular pain or sciatica, which is pain, numbness and tingling running down the arms or legs from a spinal nerve. Many people experience radicular pain from stenosis, disc herniation, or a pinched nerve. An ESI is typically recommended after anti-inflammatory medications, nerve medication, followed by physical therapy. This injection helps patients find pain relief from radicular syndrome. In some more severe cases an ESI can be given to help relieve pain in order to maximize the ability to do physical therapy. Epidural Steroid Injections help reduce inflammation and irritation of the nerve being pinched, it does not un-pinch the nerve.