Epidural Sciatic Nerve Treatment

Sciatica refers to leg pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that travels down the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the buttocks and down the back of the leg. It usually affects only one side of the body. Although most cases of sciatica get better on their own over time, epidural injections that deliver medication into the area around the spinal cord can provide temporary pain relief.

The Procedure

• Epidurals for sciatica most likely will be steroid injections. This procedure goes straight to the source of the problem, directly targeting the painful area around the sciatic nerve in hopes of numbing it and decreasing inflammation.

  Injections are placed near or around the spine within the epidural space -- on or over the membrane covering the spinal cord. The injection is given through a catheter and contains a combination of drugs, including a regional anesthetic. The patient lies flat during the procedure, which can take 15 to 30 minutes. The patient may experience loss of pain or a loss of sensation, which is normal.

Potential Side Effects and Success Rates

• Effects of the epidural treatment are temporary and can relieve pain for a week up to a year. The procedure is not guaranteed to work for everyone, but it has proven effective in relieving minor episodes of sciatic pain. It also can be helpful if you are participating in physical therapy or an exercise regimen. In fact, when it comes to sciatica, many doctors recommend a combination of injections and therapy.

  The potential side effects of epidural injections include temporary numbness in the bowels and bladder, as well as infections, although these are very rare. Other rare side effects include bleeding, arthritis in the hips and nerve damage, while more common effects include mild headaches and discomfort.

How and When to Receive an Epidural

• Patients can have up to three epidural injections a year. Various medical professionals are qualified to give an epidural, including radiologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists and surgeons. In addition to treating sciatica, epidurals can treat spinal disc problems. However, specialists recommend trying natural remedies before going this route.