Herniated Discs

One of the most common causes of severe back pain is a spinal injury known as a herniated disc. This condition goes by many names — disc herniation, bulging disc, slipped disc, collapsed disc. Each term refers to intervertebral discs that have become weakened and are pressing on the spinal cord.

 

A herniated disc can be a painful, even debilitating injury. It can impact your daily routine and lead to poor quality of life. When it comes to spinal health, herniated discs are the most common diagnosis among spine-related abnormalities. Bulging discs can impact both the lumbar region in the lower back or the neck’s cervical spine. The soft, rubbery cushion between your vertebrae is called an intervertebral disc. Wear and tear, injury or poor posture can weaken a disc’s integrity. As it loses its shape, it can bulge and put pressure on the nerves in the spinal canal. The soft inner gel within can also leak into the spinal canal. These injuries can lead to a variety of painful symptoms in the back, legs, neck or arms, depending on whether the herniation is in the lumbar or cervical spine.

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Interlaminar Epidural Injections - An epidural steroid injection is an injection of local anesthetic and steroid into the epidural space. The epidural space is a space located within the spine, just outside of the sac containing spinal fluid.

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The goal of an epidural steroid injection is to provide pain relief by reducing the inflammation (swelling) of the nerve roots as they exit the spine. An epidural steroid injection will not correct the preexisting medical problem (such as spinal stenosis, herniated or bulging disc) causing the pain, but it is intended to decrease inflammation, improve the level of pain and help with improvement in normal function.

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