Chiropractic Vs Epidural Injections for Chronic Back Pain Treatment

Chronic back pain can be a debilitating condition, significantly impacting your quality of life. If you’re struggling with persistent back pain, you’ve likely explored various treatment options, perhaps even considering both chiropractic care and epidural steroid injections. Both approaches offer potential relief, but they work in fundamentally different ways, targeting different aspects of the pain experience.

This blog post will compare chiropractic care and epidural injections, exploring their mechanisms, effectiveness, risks, and long-term implications, empowering you to make informed decisions about your back pain management. We’ll examine the evidence behind each approach, comparing their benefits and drawbacks for various back pain conditions, from herniated discs to spinal stenosis. Ultimately, the goal is to help you understand which path might be the most appropriate for your unique situation, allowing you to reclaim your active, pain-free life.

First, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common back pain conditions…

Most Common Back Pain Conditions

Various back pain treatment options exist, including but not limited to: physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or epidural injections for back pain.

Most common back pain conditions, as well as their treatments:

Condition	Cause	Symptoms	Common Treatments
Sciatica	Nerve compression from herniated discs or spinal stenosis	Radiating leg pain, numbness, tingling	Sciatica injection therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic care
Herniated Discs	Disc material pressing on nearby nerves	Nerve inflammation treatment, back pain	Herniated disc treatment, surgery, chiropractic adjustments
Spinal Stenosis	Narrowing of the spinal canal	Weakness, pain in legs	Spinal stenosis treatment, facet joint injection, surgery
Degenerative Disc Disease	Disc wear and tear over time	Chronic back pain, stiffness	Degenerative disc disease treatment, non-surgical pain relief

Epidural (Steroid) Injections: A Closer Look

An epidural steroid injection is a widely performed procedure aimed at alleviating pain, inflammation, and various symptoms associated with the back, legs, and neck. This technique entails administering a corticosteroid medication directly into the epidural space, the region that encases the spinal cord and nerves.

You may have come across discussions suggesting that epidural injections are ineffective in relieving sciatica pain. Sciatica is a symptom (rather than a diagnosis) characterized by radiating pain that extends below the knee into the leg and foot, following the pathway of the sciatic nerve. This nerve is formed from nerve roots originating in the lumbar or sacral spine. Sciatica may be accompanied by various neurological deficits, such as:

• Sensory changes: Numbness, tingling, or pins and needles sensations.
• Motor deficits: Muscle weakness in the leg or foot.
• Reflex alterations: Changes in reflexes, such as the knee-jerk or ankle reflex.

Epidural Steroid Injections: An In-Depth Examination

Certain estimates suggest that sciatica resulting from lumbar disk herniation has a prevalence rate of 9.8 per 1000 individuals This indicates that approximately 1% of the general population experiences lumbar disk herniation, which can be a significant cause of sciatica. However, it’s important to note that not all cases of lumbar disk herniation result in sciatica, and sciatica can also be caused by other factors.

“Characterized by radiating pain below the knee into the leg and foot, which is the area supplied by one or more nerve roots from the lumbar or sacral spine. It may be associated with sensory and/or motor deficits, muscle weakness, reflex alteration, or all of them. Approximately 90% of all documented sciatica cases can be attributed to lumbar disk herniation. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc; however, other possibilities include lumbar canal stenosis and foraminal stenosis, or, rarely, tumors or cysts.”

It’s important to emphasize that sciatica is a symptom of an underlying problem, not a diagnosis in itself. Further evaluation is necessary to determine the specific cause of sciatica, which can vary from a herniated disc to spinal stenosis or other conditions.

Epidural Injections Compared to Various (Chronic) Back Pain Treatments

Epidural injections have a mixed reputation in the world of chronic back pain treatment. While they can be effective for some, their success rate varies, and they’re not a guaranteed solution. Research has also shown that epidural injection success rates vary – averaging between 50% to 84%.

Epidural Injections Procedure Overview

How do epidural injections work?

In the simplest way, an epidural injection (corticosteroid) is delivered through a syringe in the spinal nerves around your lower back, specifically in the epidural space.

Once the medicine is administered, any swelling or pressure around the spinal nerves decrease, providing relief and easing pain.

Epidural injections are useful for anyone suffering from sciatica, herniated discs, and nerve pain. However, it’s important to note there are several types of epidural injections for sciatica pain relief:

Types of Epidural Injections

Injection Type	Description	Best For
Transforaminal Epidural Injection	Specifically suited for nerve root irritation	Sciatica pain relief, nerve inflammation treatment
Interlaminar Epidural Injection	Medication spreads over multiple spinal levels	Spinal pain relief, back pain relief injections
Caudal Epidural Injection	Administered at the base of the spine	Lumbar epidural steroid injection, chronic lower back pain
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection	Injected in the neck region	Neck pain relief, pinched nerve treatment

How Long Do Epidural Injections Last?

Relief from an epidural injection can last weeks to months, but it also depends on the severity of the condition and the patient’s response to treatment.

Chiropractic Care: A Natural Alternative

Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, primarily through manual spinal adjustment.

The goal is to restore proper alignment, alleviate pain, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Some benefits include

• Improved mobility
• Reduced pain
• Enhanced overall well-being

In addition, chiropractic treatments and techniques vary depending on the condition.

Chiropractic Technique	How It Works	Target	Best For
Spinal Manipulation	Apply controlled force to spinal joints to improve spinal alignment	Restores proper spinal alignment	Chronic lower back pain, degenerative disc disease treatment
Mobilization	Gentle movement and stretching the muscles and joints	Improves movement and range of motion	Sciatica injection therapy
Soft Tissue Therapy	A type of physical therapy that involves pressing, passive kneading, and stretching	Relieves muscle tension and spasms	Muscle-related back pain, facet joint injection relief, recovery treatment

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain Management

Chiropractic care focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those related to the spine. Chiropractors use manual adjustments and other techniques to improve spinal alignment and function. This can help relieve pressure on nerves, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow, which may alleviate tingling in the lower back. On-going Chiropractic Treatment plans can often be the best alternative to invasive therapies depending on the particular injury. Some of the treatments that chiropractors use to help patients avoid surgery and steroid injections for chronic back pain conditions include:

1. Manual Adjustments – A specialist uses their hands to manipulate the spine alongside other joints. This process restores proper alignment and function.
2. Spinal Manipulation – Using various techniques to manipulate the spine and improve mobility.
3. Soft Tissue Therapy – Treatments like massages are used to alleviate pain and inflammation.
4. Stretching and Strengthening Exercises – A chiropractor can recommend stretches and strength exercises to help reduce the pain that you can do on your own time. They will show you how to perform them properly so you can reap all of the benefits.

Chiropractic Treatment Advantages Over Steroid Injection Medications

For starters, chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment. It’s also a drug-free approach to managing and relieving back pain. While chiropractic care treatments aren’t as “quick” as invasive treatments, the main goal is to address the root cause of the pain. This allows for a more natural healing process overall. Additionally, chiropractic treatments often include patient education on posture, ergonomics, and exercises to prevent future episodes of back pain.

Drug-Free Chronic Back Pain Treatment, The Safest & Smartest Alternative

While many patients tend to visit their doctors to diagnose their pain, one of the main things they are given before or after treatment is generally medication to relieve any pain that they are experiencing. This can have a severe and costly negative impact on patients as they depend on medication to complete daily tasks and responsibilities.

Patients victims of chronic pain will become more heavily dependent on these medications, constantly taking them, potentially leading to addiction and other long-term medical complications. Chiropractic care is a completely drug-free treatment plan, allowing the body to heal itself on its own, reducing chronic pain without the need for heavy medications.

Chiropractic vs. Epidural Injections: Which is More Effective for Chronic Back Pain Treatments?

So now we’ve had a good understanding of chiropractic care and epidural injections, that leaves us with the verdict.

“Should you choose chiropractic or epidural injections for back pain?”

Chiropractic Treatment or Epidural Injections for Back Pain  – Here’s a quick rundown:

• Epidural injections are quick solutions for providing temporary relief while chiropractic care offers a more natural approach
• Chiropractic care addresses both the symptoms and root cause of back pain, while epidural injections only target the symptoms

A recent study on the effectiveness of epidural injections vs chiropractic care treatment (spinal manipulative therapy) found that 60% of patients treated with SMT had significantly reduced pain vs the 53% of patients treated with epidural injections.

>While both solutions are effective, it’s also worth considering the side effects and risks of steroidal injections such as decreased bone mineral density. If you’re still on the fence on whether epidural injections are more effective than chiropractic care treatment, here’s a quick guide:

• • Pain severity and duration: Acute, severe pain may require the immediate relief that injections can provide, while chronic, manageable pain might respond well to chiropractic care.

• • Relief treatment: Epidural injections provide relief for symptoms making this better suited for acute pain that needs to be treated once. Chiropractic care treatments address the root cause so are better suited to chronic pain.

• • Underlying Condition: Specific diagnoses may respond better to one treatment over the other. Even though epidural injections are effective in their own way, it’s always best and advisable to treat conditions with proper treatment.
  • Patient Preference: Some individuals prefer to avoid invasive procedures and medications, making chiropractic care more appealing

• • Cost: Chiropractic care treatment can incur a wide range of costs, such as MRI imaging, consultations, and so on. Epidural injections generally carry higher costs due to multiple injections, consultations, and the possibility of surgery.

Chiropractic Treatment Vs. Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain Overview:

Factor	Chiropractic Care	Epidural Injections
Invasiveness	Non-surgical pain relief, hands-on adjustments	Back pain relief injections, steroid-based
Side Effects	Minimal (mild soreness)	Side effects of epidural injections for back pain (temporary numbness, nerve damage risk)
Long-Term Benefits	Targets root cause of pain	Temporary pain relief
Cost-Effectiveness	Affordable over time	Expensive if repeated frequently

Important: Consulting with a Chicago healthcare professional is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on individual needs and medical history.

Addtional Non-Invasive / Non-Surgical Treatment Therapies

Consulting a chiropractor provides many alternatives to epidural injections for back pain, if you feel uncomfortable with invasive procedures.

Therapy	Description	Effectiveness
Physical Therapy	Strengthening exercises, posture correction	Highly effective for most back pain treatment options
Acupuncture	Needle-based therapy to relieve pain	Works for some with chronic back pain
Massage Therapy	Manipulation of soft tissue to relax muscles	Helpful for non-surgical pain relief

Chiropractic Treatment Vs. Epidural Injections – FAQs

1. How long does relief from an epidural injection last?
   Relief duration varies; some patients experience weeks to months of reduced pain, while others may require additional treatments like surgery. It’s best to consult your chiropractor and discuss expectations.
2. Are there side effects associated with chiropractic adjustments?
   Common side effects include temporary soreness or stiffness; serious complications are rare when performed by a licensed chiropractor.
3. Can I receive chiropractic care after having an epidural injection?
   Yes, combining treatments can be beneficial, but it’s important to coordinate with your chiropractor before attempting both.
4. How many chiropractic sessions are typically needed to see improvement?
   The number varies based on individual conditions; some may notice improvement after a few sessions, while others may require ongoing care. As mentioned previously, this mostly depends on the severity of the pain. Furthermore, there could be underlying cases that your chiropractor will be able to assess through various methods like MRI imaging.
5. Is acupuncture scientifically proven to relieve back pain?
   Some studies suggest acupuncture can be effective for chronic back pain, but results vary and are suitable for specific conditions.

Begin Your Path to Chronic Back Pain Relief at Advanced Spine & Sports Care – Top-Rated Back Pain Experts, Located in Chicago

Both epidural injections for back pain and chiropractic adjustments offer solutions for spinal pain relief. While injections provide quick temporary relief, chiropractic care is a non-surgical pain relief alternative that targets the root cause of back pain or discomfort. If you’re looking for sciatica pain relief, spinal stenosis treatment, or alternatives to epidural injections, visit Chiropracticsportscare.com or call 773-868-0347 to schedule an appointment right now.

Last Updated on March 7, 2025 by Chiropractor Dr. Jason Ingham DC, CCSP