Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator
Post count: 8656

Almost universally, epidural steroid injections (ESI) contain a numbing agent like lidocaine. This anesthetic allows a diagnostic component as structures will be “numbed”. The ESI is a variation of Transforaminal ESIs and Selective Nerve Root Blocks (SNRB), which are more precise. The goal of the ESI depends upon why it is being used. See:
https://neckandback.com/treatments/epidural-injections-and-selective-nerve-root-blocks-diagnostic-and-therapeutic/
https://neckandback.com/treatments/diagnostic-vs-therapeutic-injections/ and
https://neckandback.com/treatments/pain-diary-instructions-for-spinal-injections/

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.