Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection: The Questions Patients Actually Ask — Answered by Physicians
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection generates some of the most repetitive phone calls in any pain management practice: eating before the injection, blood-thinner timing, and when the relief actually starts. PrepQ, a patient-education platform built by physicians and operated by PrepQ LLC, maintains 18 physician-written answers about lumbar epidural steroid injection as part of a library of more than 7,500 answers covering 700-plus procedures across 14 specialties. Practices that subscribe to PrepQ give their patients a dedicated phone number to text or call at any hour, and the platform replies instantly with content the practice's own clinicians have reviewed and approved in advance. Questions outside the approved library are referred back to the office, and any message that suggests urgent symptoms is directed to 911 or the practice instead of being answered by software. The result: patients arrive prepared, day-of cancellations drop, and staff stop repeating the same lumbar epidural steroid injection instructions dozens of times a week.
Real lumbar epidural steroid injection questions from our physician-reviewed library
A sample of the 18 lumbar epidural steroid injection answers in PrepQ's library. Before any practice goes live, its own clinicians review and approve every answer — and can customize each one to their protocols.
Do I need to stop my blood thinners before my Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?
This procedure is classified as HIGH bleeding risk under ASRA guidelines. Never stop or change any blood thinner on your own — whether a hold is needed, and for how long, depends on your specific medication and health history. Tell your care team about every blood thinner, aspirin product, or supplement you take, and follow the exact instructions they give you at your pre-procedure call. If you have not received instructions, call the office before your procedure.
Do I need to stop my blood thinners before my Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?
This procedure is classified as HIGH bleeding risk under ASRA guidelines. Never stop or change any blood thinner on your own — whether a hold is needed, and for how long, depends on your specific medication and health history. Tell your care team about every blood thinner, aspirin product, or supplement you take, and follow the exact instructions they give you at your pre-procedure call. If you have not received instructions, call the office before your procedure.
How do I prepare for my Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?
Do not eat or drink for 4–6 hours before the procedure if sedation is planned Arrange a driver — you cannot drive yourself home Tell your doctor about all blood thinners, aspirin, or supplements you take Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing Continue your regular medications unless told otherwise
How do I prepare for my Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?
Fast 4–6 hours if sedation is planned Bring a driver Disclose blood thinners and supplements Bring prior MRI or CT reports if available
How is this different from an interlaminar injection?
A transforaminal approach targets a specific nerve root more directly. Your doctor chooses the approach based on your imaging and symptoms.
What are the benefits of a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?
Most patients notice pain relief within 2–7 days. Relief may last weeks to months and allows you to participate more fully in physical therapy and daily activities.
What are the benefits of a Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?
Highly targeted pain relief for specific nerve-related symptoms. Many patients experience significant leg and back pain reduction.
What are the risks of a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?
Risks are uncommon but include temporary soreness at the injection site, flushing, elevated blood sugar (especially in diabetics), headache, and very rarely infection or nerve injury.
What are the risks of a Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?
Similar to other epidural injections: soreness, flushing, temporary blood sugar elevation. The contrast dye carries a small allergy risk — notify your doctor of any dye allergies.
What happens during a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?
You will lie face-down on a padded X-ray table. The skin over your lower back is cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic. Using live X-ray (fluoroscopy) guidance, the physician guides a needle into the epidural space and injects steroid medication. The procedure takes about 15–30 minutes.
Your staff answers these 18 questions by phone. PrepQ answers them by text, instantly.
PrepQ gives your pain management practice a dedicated number patients text or call 24/7. Physician-written answers, approved by your doctors, delivered in English and Spanish — with urgent messages escalated to your office or 911, never improvised. HIPAA-compliant, BAA provided, no EHR integration required.