1 Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Balagangadharanatha Nagara, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District, Karnataka
2Junior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Balagangadharanatha Nagara, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District, Karnataka
*Corresponding author: Dr. Madhukar TK, Associate Professor, 176, Sampada Siddhibinayaka Block, Teacher's Layout, Mysore-570029
Online published on 16 January, 2016.
The likelihood of experiencing an episode of low back pain increases with age, and 85% of people will have at least one episode in their lifetime. Prevalence of low back pain is next only to headache.
Total 25 patients (14 male and 11 female) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent epidural steroid injection. Patient pain scaling is done before performing the procedure, after 48 hours, after 2 weeks, after 3 months of the procedure. The proposed pain scale to be used is Numerical Rating Scale.
Out of total 25 patients, after 48 hours it was found 15 patients had mild pain (NRS 1–3), 9 patients moderate pain (NRS 4–6) and 1 patient continued to have severe pain (NRS 7–10). After 2 weeks it was found 12 patients to be mild pain, 12 patients with moderate pain and 1 patient with severe pain. After 3 months it was found 7 patients had mild pain, 16 patients had moderate pain and 2 patients had severe pain.
The effect of epidural steroid injection decreases with time. The local effect of steroids has been shown to last at least 2 to 3 weeks at a therapeutic level.
Epidural Steroid Injection is a safe, effective, & economical treatment modality for LBP. It reduces the period of hospitalization, analgesic intake & facilitates the institution of early rehabilitative programs.
Low Back Pain, Conservative Management, Epidural Steroid Injection
