Epidural Steroid Injections

摘要

Although epidural application of steroids is widely used since many years for the treatment of low back pain, its efficacy remains controversial. Steroids relieve pain by reducing inflammation and by blocking transmission of noci-ceptive C-fiber input. Several studies have demonstrated, that epidural corticosteroids injections provide pain relief for selected patients with pain associated with radiculopathy and do not appear to be associated with substantial risk of neurological dysfunction. Advantages of this invasive form of therapy include the reduction of addictive analgesic drugs, a decreased time of absolute immobilization, respectively strict bed rest, and of the hospitalization. However, there is still discussion about epidural steroids injections.