Epidural Steroid Injection Center - West Des Moines, IA
West Des 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 West 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  Peter D Wirtz MD  Metro Orthopaedic Surgery PC  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  Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists LLC  Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists LLC  Mahaska Health Partnership  Stewart Memorial Hospital West 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 InjectionHow are the spine and its discs designed?The vertebrae are the bony building blocks of the spine. Between each of the largest parts (bodies) of the vertebrae are the discs. Ligaments are situated around the spine and discs. The spine has seven vertebrae in the neck (cervical vertebrae), 12 vertebrae in the mid-back (thoracic vertebrae), and five vertebrae in the low back (lumbar vertebrae). In addition, in the mid-buttock, beneath the fifth lumbar vertebra, is the sacrum, followed by the tailbone (coccyx). The bony spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure while also protecting the spinal cord (nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain) from injury. Each vertebra has a spinous process, which is a bony prominence behind the spinal cord that shields the cord's nerve tissue. The vertebrae also have a strong bony "body" in front of the spinal cord to provide a plat... Other Related Epidural Steroid Injection ArticlesEmergency Contact for West Des Moines
Nearby West Des Moines Hospitals *Mercy Franklin Center Blank Children's Hospital Iowa Methodist Medical Center VA Central Iowa Health Care Des Moines Broadlawns Medical Center Mercy Medical Center Des Moines Iowa Lutheran Hospital Madison County Healthcare System Dallas County Hospital Mary Greeley Medical Center Boone County Hospital Story County Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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