Epidural Steroid Injections New Jersey

Relieve Neck, Back, and Nerve Pain Without Surgery

If you’re struggling with pain that travels into your arm or leg, numbness, tingling, or a pinched nerve, an epidural steroid injection may help reduce inflammation and provide lasting relief.

Epidural steroid injections are one of the most common and effective non surgical treatments for conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and cervical or lumbar radiculopathy. By delivering anti inflammatory medication directly around the irritated nerve, these injections can reduce pain, improve mobility, and help many patients avoid or delay surgery.

For nearly 30 years, New Jersey pain management specialist Dr. Todd Koppel has performed thousands of epidural steroid injections for patients throughout New Jersey. Every procedure is performed using advanced fluoroscopic imaging to ensure precise placement and maximize effectiveness.

“I have performed thousands of epidural steroid injections over nearly 30 years in practice. I have seen how they can help patients who have been suffering for months. They are remarkably effective at calming the nerve inflammation that drives so much of the pain. For many patients, that relief lasts months, or even years, ” says Todd Koppel.

What Is an Epidural Steroid Injection?

The epidural space is a narrow area inside the spinal canal, just outside the membrane surrounding the spinal cord. It runs the length of the spine from the neck to the lower back.

When a disc herniates, bone spurs develop, or spinal stenosis narrows the canal, the nearby nerves become compressed and inflamed. That inflammation is responsible for a large portion of the pain. An epidural steroid injection delivers corticosteroid medication directly into the epidural space, right where the nerve inflammation is occurring.

This is very different from a general cortisone shot into a muscle or joint. The medication goes exactly where it is needed, in a small and targeted amount.

Conditions It Treats

• Sciatica — shooting leg pain from a compressed lumbar nerve root
• Herniated disc — cervical or lumbar
• Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal
• Pinched nerve in the neck causing arm pain, numbness, or tingling
• Degenerative disc disease with nerve involvement
• Radiculopathy at any spinal level

Am I a Candidate?

You may benefit from an epidural steroid injection if you have:

• Pain traveling into your arm or leg
• Numbness or tingling
• A pinched nerve
• A herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Pain that has not improved with medication or physical therapy
• Symptoms that are interfering with work or everyday activities

During your consultation, Dr. Koppel will review your symptoms, imaging studies, and previous treatments before recommending a personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect

Before the Injection

• Avoid eating for four hours before the procedure if receiving sedation
• If you take blood thinners, Dr. Koppel will advise whether a temporary hold is needed
• For procedures done in the office, you can drive yourself after this procedure

During the Procedure

You’ll lie comfortably on the procedure table while the skin is numbed with local anesthetic.

Using live fluoroscopic imaging, Dr. Koppel carefully guides the needle into the epidural space and confirms proper placement before delivering the medication.

Most procedures take approximately 15 minutes.

Sedation is available for patients who feel anxious about the procedure.

After the Injection

Most patients return home shortly after treatment.

You may notice mild soreness for a day or two.

Some patients experience temporary increased discomfort before the medication begins reducing inflammation.

Many patients begin noticing improvement within three to seven days, and most return to normal activities the following day.

How Long Does Relief Last?

For patients who respond well, relief typically lasts several months to over a year. Studies consistently show that 50 to 70 percent of patients experience long-term benefit. Many patients maintain relief with periodic repeat injections.

The injection does not repair the underlying structural problem; a herniated disc will still be herniated. But by controlling the inflammation, it allows the nerve to recover, and in many cases, the underlying condition stabilizes or improves on its own over time.

How Many Injections Will I Need?

Some patients get complete relief from a single injection. Others benefit from a series of two or three injections spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Koppel will recommend a plan based on your specific diagnosis and your response to the first treatment.

Why Choose Dr. Todd Koppel?

Successful epidural steroid injections depend on accurate diagnosis and precise needle placement.

Dr. Koppel has helped patients throughout New Jersey manage chronic neck, back, and nerve pain using advanced interventional pain management techniques.

Patients choose Dr. Koppel because he offers:

• Nearly 30 years of experience performing epidural steroid injections
• Fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery
• Advanced fluoroscopic image guidance
• Personalized treatment plans
• Minimally invasive procedures performed in the office
• A conservative approach focused on helping patients avoid surgery whenever possible

At Garden State Pain Management, every treatment plan begins with identifying the true source of pain before recommending a procedure.