Lumbar Epidural Injection: Your Procedure

A lumbar epidural injection is an outpatient procedure. It is often done in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. Before your injection, your healthcare provider will discuss how you need to prepare.

Getting ready

You may need to prepare by doing the following:

• Give the doctor a list of all medicines you take, including aspirin and anti-inflammatories. (You may need to stop taking some of them before the injection.)
• You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours before check-in.
• Arrange for an adult friend or family member to drive you home afterward.
• Bring any requested X-ray, CT or MRI images on the day of the procedure.

During the procedure

The injection takes just a few minutes. Extra time may be needed to prepare for the procedure. You may be given medicine before the injection to help you relax:

• In some cases monitoring devices may be attached to your chest or side. These devices measure your heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
• You lie on your stomach or side, depending on where the injection will be given. Your back is cleaned and may be covered with sterile towels.
• Medicine is given to numb the skin near the injection site.
• A local anesthetic (for numbing), steroids (for reducing inflammation), or both are injected into the epidural space.
• Often times fluoroscopy (live x-ray images) is used to help guide the doctor as he advances the spinal needle. If fluoroscopy is used, a contrast “dye” is injected into your back and x-ray imaging is used to confirm the proper placement of the needle.
• Once the placement of the spinal needle is confirmed, the doctor injects the medicine for your pain. 

After the procedure

You will spend time in a recovery area after the procedure. Before going home, you may be asked to fill out another survey about your pain.

The procedure is very safe, but there is a very small risk of infection or complications afterward. Seek medical attention right away for any of the following symptoms:

• Headache (worsens when standing, improves when lying down)

• Numbness, weakness or paralysis

• Bleeding

• Redness, swelling, fever or any other signs of infection