Intralaminar Epidural Steroid Injection

This procedure is usually done in an outpatient clinic or surgery center.

• You will lie face down on an X-ray (fluoroscopy) table.
• The skin over the treatment area (neck, mid-back, or low back) is cleaned, sterilized, and numbed with a local anesthetic.
• Using fluoroscopy (live X-ray), your provider guides a thin needle into the central epidural space between two vertebrae.
• Contrast dye is used to confirm correct needle placement.
• A mixture of steroid medication and local anesthetic is slowly injected to coat the irritated nerves.
• The entire procedure typically takes 15–30 minutes, followed by a brief monitoring period before you go home.

• You may feel numbness or temporary relief right away from the local anesthetic.
• It is normal for pain to return once the anesthetic wears off, usually within a few hours.
• The steroid medication typically begins working within 2–5 days, with maximum benefit often seen within 1–2 weeks.
• Mild soreness at the injection site can occur for a day or two.
• Light activity is encouraged, but avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or prolonged bending/twisting for 24–48 hours.

Many patients experience significant improvement in pain, mobility, and daily function for weeks to months after a successful injection.