Lumbar Epidural Injection: Your Procedure

A lumbar epidural injection is an outpatient procedure. This means you go home the same day. It’s often done in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. Before your shot, your healthcare provider will tell you how to get ready.

Getting ready

You may need to do the following:

• Give the healthcare provider a list of all over-the-counter and prescription medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. This includes aspirin and anti-inflammatories. (You may need to stop taking some of them before the injection.)

• Follow any directions you're given for not eating or drinking before the procedure.

• Arrange for an adult friend or family member to drive you home afterward.

• Bring any requested X-ray, CT scan, or MRI images on the day of the procedure.

During the procedure

The injection takes just a few minutes. But extra time is needed to get ready. You may be given medicine before to help you relax:

• In some cases, monitoring devices may be attached to your chest or side. These devices measure your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

• You lie on your stomach or side, depending on where the shot will be given. Your back is cleaned and may be covered with sterile towels.

• Medicine is given to numb the skin near the place of the shot.

• If X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) is to be used, a contrast dye may be injected into your back. This helps your healthcare provider get a better image.

• A local anesthetic (for numbing), steroids (for reducing inflammation), or both are injected into the epidural space.

The procedure is very safe. But there is a very small risk of infection or local reaction afterward. Get medical care right away if you have:

• Increasing pain

• Headaches (especially when standing up or sitting upright)

• Redness

• Fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Symptoms of infection 

After the procedure

You’ll spend time in a recovery area after the procedure. Before going home, you may be asked to fill out a survey about your pain.