Epidural steroid injection

Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a technique in which corticosteroids and a local anesthetic are injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord in an effort to improve spinal stenosis, spinal disc herniation, or both. It is of limited benefit but has infrequent major side effects. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved ESI for pain management, and has raised concerns about rare, but serious, side effects.