Why Do Epidural Injections Fail? Common Reasons and Effective Solutions

By: Dr. Sourabh Chachan

Dec 31, 2024

Epidural injections are a common treatment for back pain, sciatica, and neck pain. While they often work well, some people don’t feel much relief, which can be frustrating and discouraging. Today, we’ll talk about two main reasons why epidural injections might not work and what you can do to improve your results.

Reason 1: Wrong Indication

The most common reason for the failure of epidural injections is incorrect patient selection or indication. Just like other health conditions, spine problems are categorized into stages. Only 5-10% of people with back pain or sciatica are good candidates for epidural injections. If you're part of the 90% who could have been treated with medications, physiotherapy, or other non-surgical options, but were given an epidural injection, it’s unlikely to bring much relief.

If you're among the 2% of patients who need surgery for a full recovery but are treated with epidural injections, the treatment might not work well. The important point to remember is that the success of epidural injections depends on correctly diagnosing your spine condition and understanding its stage.

As a patient, it's important to ensure that your doctor, like Dr. Sourabh Chachan, has found the true cause of your back pain or sciatica. If the diagnosis is wrong or the treatment doesn’t suit your condition, it might not work.

Reason 2: Improper Technique

Even if the reason for the epidural injection is correct, the treatment can fail if the medicine isn’t injected in the right place. The spine is complicated, so the medication needs to be injected very carefully. If the needle is even slightly off, the medicine might not spread properly, causing only short-term relief that lasts a few days or weeks.

To achieve the desired outcome, your doctor must be highly skilled in using imaging techniques like X-rays to guide the needle to the exact location. When it comes to treating sciatica or back pain with epidural injections, expertise and accuracy are essential.

How to Ensure Success with Epidural Injections

If your epidural injections didn’t work, don’t give up. These conditions can be completely treated when addressed properly. Here’s what you can do to increase your chances of success:

1. Seek Expert Diagnosis: Talk to Dr. Sourabh Chachan, an expert in sciatica pain, who specializes in diagnosing and treating spine issues. A thorough diagnosis will help determine if an epidural injection is the right treatment for your condition.

2. Understand Your Treatment Plan: Make sure your doctor explains the stage of your spine condition and why they suggest an epidural injection. Knowing the reason for the treatment can help you make better decisions.

3. Verify the Procedure’s Accuracy: Choose a doctor with extensive experience and access to advanced imaging techniques to ensure precise placement of the medication during the procedure.

Failed epidural injections can often be traced back to either the wrong indication or improper technique. However, with the right diagnosis, staging, and expertise, these failures can be avoided. If you’re struggling with back pain, sciatica pain, or neck pain, remember that these conditions are 100% treatable. The key is to identify the root cause and follow a tailored treatment plan.

Don’t wait any longer—reach out to a sciatica pain expert today. Share your reports and symptoms with specialist Dr. Sourabh Chachan, who can guide you toward the right path for complete recovery.

Contact: +91-88601-92800.