Are Epidural Steroid Injections Effective?
The French National Team is at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil without its star winger, Frank Ribery, because of a medical controversy. Ribery refused to have the spinal injections that France’s team physician, Kevin Le Gall, recommended for treatment of his crippling back pain. After Ribery refused the injections, Dr. Le Gall told the press that the 31-year-old player won’t be stepping onto the field because he is “afraid of injections.” Ribery quickly retorted: “I’m not afraid…. But I didn’t want to have a cortisone injection. I know it’s not good.”
Ribery makes an interesting point. Epidural steroid injections are one of the most commonly performed interventions in the US for providing short-term relief of lower back pain. However, recent research is increasingly calling into question the effectiveness of this approach. A 2013 study in Surgical Neurology International reported that these types of spinal injections typically offer only temporary relief and are ineffective for managing pain over the long term. They can also expose patients to major risks and complications. The report was authored by Dr. Nancy Epstein, Chief of Neurosurgical Spine and Education at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY. As she states in her report, “The multitude of risks attributed to these injections outweighs the benefits.” Epstein goes on to write, “These procedures are not FDA approved, and, according to the majority of the literature, are both ineffective and unsafe.”
In fact, some studies have concluded that injecting steroids works no better than injecting saline, a placebo. Other studies have shown that receiving epidural steroid injections does not help a patient avoid back surgery – and may even increase surgery rates and expose them to other unnecessary risks. Dr. Epstein cites multiple recent reports that blame contaminated epidural steroid injections for meningitis, stroke, paralysis, and even death. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) specifically identified 25 deaths (many due to Aspergillus fumigatus), 337 patients sickened, and 14,000 exposed to contaminated steroids.
The major pain societies in the US, the American Pain Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Academy of Neurology, state that steroid injections are best suited for a diagnosis of radiculopathy, a pinched or inflamed nerve root with pain radiating down the leg. However, this particular diagnosis fits only a very small minority of patients.
Safe, Effective Treatment for the Relief of Neck & Back Pain in Fort Wayne
The debate continues in the professional pain management community, and yet the use of this procedure continues to rise. Although the benefits of Epidural Steroid Injections may include short-term pain relief, the number of risks associated with these injections may very well outweigh the benefits. At Busch Chiropractic Fort Wayne, we have treated thousands of patients with the DRS Protocol®™. The DRS Protocol®™ is a safe, effective, and pain-free alternative to addictive pain medications and invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections and neck or back surgery. If you’re suffering from back pain or neck pain, contact Busch Chiropractic today at (260) 471-4090 to find out if you’re a candidate for the DRS Protocol™.
