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Epidural Steroid Injection

Medical Author: William C. Shiel, Jr, MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Contributing Author: Standiford Helm II, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD

What is an epidural steroid injection?

An epidural steroid injection is a common procedure to treat spinal nerve irritation that is caused by tissues next to the nerve pressing against it. The beginning of the nerve (nerve root) is most often irritated by an inflamed intervertebral disc, or disc contents, directly touching the spinal nerve.

Herniated Disc

[Drawing of a disc herniation compressing the spinal nerve root]

An epidural steroid injection involves bathing an inflamed nerve root in steroids (potent anti-inflammation medicine) in order to decrease the irritation of the nerve root that is causing pain.




Next: How is an epidural steroid injection performed? »

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Epidural Steroid Injection

Spondylolisthesis »

What is spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis (spon + dee + lo + lis + thee + sis) is a condition of the spine whereby one of the vertebra slips forward or backward compared to the next vertebra. Forward slippage of one vertebra on another is referred to as anterolisthesis, while backward slippage is referred to as retrolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis can lead to a deformity of the spine as well as a narrowing of the spinal canal (central spinal stenosis) or compression of the exiting nerve roots (foraminal stenosis).

What causes spondylolisthesis?

There are five major types of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

  1. Dysplastic spondylolisthesis: Dysplastic spondylolisthesis is caused by a defect in the formation of part of the vertebra called the facet that allows it to slip forward. This is a condition that a patient is born with (congenital).
  2. Isthmic spondylolisthesis: In Isthmic spondylolist...

Read the Spondylolisthesis article »




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