See how it is done
When pain in your spine radiates outward — down the arm from the neck, around the rib cage from the mid-back, or into the buttock and leg from the low back — it usually means a nerve root leaving the spine is inflamed.
The interlaminar epidural injection delivers a small dose of corticosteroid into the epidural space, the area immediately around those nerve roots, calming the inflammation that is driving your pain.
We perform this procedure at all three spinal levels — cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (low back) — using live X-ray (fluoroscopy) so we can see exactly where the medication needs to go.
What to expect
You lie face-down on a fluoroscopy table. The skin is numbed, and the injection itself takes 5 to 10 minutes. Total appointment time is about 30 minutes. Most patients drive themselves home.
Recovery
Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours is normal. Pain relief typically begins 3 to 7 days after the injection and lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
What this treats
- cervical radiculopathy
- sciatica
- lumbar radiculopathy
- herniated disc
- spinal stenosis
- post-laminectomy pain
Conditions this treats
Common diagnoses we use this procedure for. Tap one to read more.
Before, during, and after — what to do
Before your appointment
Eat a normal meal before your appointment — there is no fasting required for most injections. Take your usual medications unless we have specifically asked you not to. If you take a blood thinner (aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban, rivaroxaban, etc.), tell us in advance — we may need to adjust the timing. Bring your OHIP card and any imaging reports we asked for.
On the day
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — easy to roll up sleeves or pant legs, easy to lie face-down on the table. Plan to be at the clinic about 45 minutes total. You can drive yourself unless we told you otherwise. If you are anxious about the procedure, tell us — we will walk you through every step.
After the procedure
You may feel some soreness at the injection site for 1–3 days. Ice helps; so does Tylenol or ibuprofen if you can take it. Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for 24 hours, then resume normal activity as comfort allows. The therapeutic effect of the injection usually starts within a few days and reaches full strength by 2 weeks.
When to call us: Call us right away — or go to the nearest emergency department — if you develop a high fever, severe new pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, weakness in a limb, or loss of bladder or bowel control. These are rare but worth knowing.
What happens on the day
We use live fluoroscopy to see exactly where the needle is going. The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes, plus a little time to get you positioned and a short rest afterwards. Most people feel relief lasting 4 to 12 weeks.