Caudal Epidural and Steroid Injections and Blocks

Indianapolis’ Center for Pain Management uses caudal steroid injections (also called caudal epidural steroid injections or caudal blocks) as a pain management treatment option to relieve lower back pain and radiating leg pain. The steroids used can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by stenosis, radiculopathy, sciatica and herniated discs.

How it works: Local anesthetic is used to numb the skin and tissue down to the surface of sacral hiatus. After a needle is carefully inserted in the target area, a contrast solution (a liquid that displays on X-ray) is used to help the doctor see painful areas using fluoroscopy. Then a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medicine is injected into the epidural space, bathing the affected area in medication. Most patients have significant pain relief after one or two caudal steroid injections, but it might be necessary to repeat the procedure several times to receive the full benefit of the pain management treatment.