The steroid reduces inflammation and/or swelling of the nerves. This can help with a number of things such as reducing pain, tingling, numbness and other symptoms caused by nerve inflammation, irritation or swelling due to compression.
Watch: Having an epidural injection with Queensland X-Ray
How do I prepare?
Please arrive early for your exam as you will be asked to complete a questionnaire.
It’s a good idea to dress in a separate top and bottoms, as this makes accessing the area we need access to easier.
We suggest you bring a friend along to drive you home after the appointment, or arrange to get a taxi home.
Technology and Team
Epidural injections are performed using either a CT, X-ray or ultrasound.
The injection is delivered by one of our specially trained radiologists.
Radiologists, radiographers and our Nurses work together to deliver this service. Due to the number of people involved, this is why we ask you travel to one of our hospital or comprehensive sites for this imaging procedure.
What happens during my examination
Your radiographer will explain exactly what will happen during your procedure. It may vary slightly from what we describe below, so don’t worry if this is the case, you’ll always be in very good hands.
On entering the procedure room, you will be introduced to the radiologist and nurse who will be administering the injection. You will be asked to lie on the bed face down. We’ll clean the site with antiseptic before administering a local anaesthetic to numb the area.
Our radiologist will then insert a needle using the guidance of imaging technology. This is to ensure the needle is directed into the spinal area correctly. When the needle is in the correct position, the steroid is then injected.
Some people tell us that they feel a little bit of pressure or discomfort when the needle is going into the skin. This is totally normal and we’ll do our very best to limit this feeling as much as possible.
Throughout the procedure, the radiologist will talk to you about what they’re doing. They will leave the room and come back several times as they review the images.
Immediately after the injection, you may also feel that your legs are slightly heavy and may be a little numb. You may also notice that your pain has gone or lessened. This is due to the local anaesthetic.
The injection should take effect after approximately 24 hours. The procedure will last around 30 minutes. You may feel some minor pressure or discomfort. We’ll do our very best to keep this to a minimum and keep you comfortable. At the end of the examination, you will be asked to stay on the bed for around 30 minutes, before we allow you to dress and return to the waiting area.
How much will it cost?
Fees for radiology procedures will vary depending on a variety of factors. We will advise you about the cost of your service at the time of booking but if you do have any questions, contact us and one of our team will be happy to help with your query. You can read more about our billing information here.
How do I access my images?
At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.