What is an epidural injection and why would my doctor recommend it?

What is an epidural steroid injection? With our practice we help many injured seaman who have suffered serious back and neck injuries. Very often the treating doctor will recommend an epidural steroid injection before any type of surgery is considered.

An epidural steroid injection is an injection done into a person’s back or neck in order to give them relief from pain. It can also be a little bit diagnostic because if a doctor does it at a certain level that he thinks may benefit from surgery and the patient gets benefit from the epidural injection it tells the doctor that that’s probably the disc that’s hurt and injured and needs to have surgery done on it. So if your doctor recommends epidural steroid injections usually it’s not going to cure you it’s basically a pain-relieving type mechanism; sometimes they last for a weeks, sometimes they last for a few weeks but your doctor is also going to find out if maybe a surgery down the road may be able to fully benefit you.

Call us if you have any questions about any type of medical testing that’s been recommended for you after a maritime injury or if you have any questions about your rights, choices or options under maritime law.