Epidural Steroid Injection Center - Des Moines, IADes Moines Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors for Epidural Steroid InjectionType of Physician: Orthopedic Surgeon What is a Orthopedic Surgeon ? A certification by the Board of Orthopaedic Surgery; practitioners focus on the investigation, preservation and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated structures by medical, surgical and physical means. Birth defects, trauma, infections, tumors and metabolic disturbances of the musculoskeletal system are problems cared for by the orthopaedic surgeon. Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery Common Name: Orthopedist Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors in Des Moines * Mark B Kirkland DO  Central Iowa Orthopaedics Group  Central Iowa Orthopaedics Group  Central Iowa Orthopaedics Group  The Iowa Clinic Orthopaedics  Metro Orthopaedic Surgery PC  Metro Orthopaedic Surgery PC  Peter D Wirtz MD  McFarland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery  McFarland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery  McFarland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery  McFarland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery  McFarland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery  Mid Iowa Surgery  Marshalltown Orthopaedics  Marshalltown Orthopaedics  Marshalltown Orthopaedics  Marshalltown Orthopaedics  Mahaska Health Partnership  Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists LLC  Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists LLC  Stewart Memorial Hospital  Ottumwa Medical Clinic Des Moines, IowaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-08
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Epidural Steroid InjectionRead the Epidural Steroid Injection article » 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.
[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. How is an epidural steroid injection performed?The epidural steroid injection procedure is quick and simple. While it is common for people to be concerned prior to the procedure, it is actually frequent to hear from patients afterwards: "Is that all?" The spinal cord rests in the spinal canal. The nerve roots branch out from the spinal cord at each level of a spinal vertebra (the bony building blocks of the spine). The cord is protected by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which serves as a shock absorber for the cord. The CSF is held in place by a membrane with several layers, one of which is called the dura, from the Greek for tough (think of "durable"). The Greek word "epi" means "outside of." So, the epidural space is outside of this tough membrane. During an epidural steroid injection, a needle and syringe are used to enter the epidural space and deposit small amounts of long-lasting steroids around the inflamed spinal nerve. A fluoroscope (a viewing instrument using X-rays) is used to visualize the local anatomy during the injection. The epidural steroid injection specifically targets the inflamed area and treats it with a maximal amount of steroids, thereby minimizing exposure of the rest of the body to the steroid... Recommended Reading Related to Epidural Steroid InjectionIntroduction to pinched nerveNerves are like electrical cords that carry information from the brain to the rest of the body and vice-versa. They are distributed throughout the entire body.
The information travels along the nerve by an electrochemical signal, much like information traveling along an electrical cord. When a nerve is pinched, the signal is interrupted somewhere along its path.
What caus...Other Related Epidural Steroid Injection ArticlesEmergency Contact for Des Moines
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Pinched Nerve
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Lower Back Pain
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Herniated Disc
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