Epidural steroid injection for spinal pain

Abstract

Spinal pain is one of the most common complaints of patients and making an economic burden on society. The worldwidelifetime prevalence of lower back pain was reported as 84%. Most general physicians, as well as spine surgeons, commonlyencountered to the diagnostic and management strategy for spinal pain. Currently, nonsurgical invasive treatment includinginjection therapy before surgery had been routine management option. The epidural injections with or without corticosteroid wasproven to be effective for spinal pain, especially with radiculopathy, in short term period. The long term effect and combineduse of corticosteroid are under debate. Further rationalized studies for these debates should be conducted. To help the doctorsin choosing rationalized nonsurgical treatment methods for spinal pain, this study present the evidence based effectiveness ofepidural injections and comprehensive reviews of current trends for corticosteroids in use for spinal pain treatment.