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How to Manage Lower Back Pain After Epidural Injections in Scottsdale?
Updated: 06/03/2026
Some people get lower back pain after an epidural injection. It may feel like pressure, tightness, or pain that moves to the hips or legs. This happens because of swelling, tight muscles, or nerve irritation. The pain can be hard, but there are different ways to feel better. In this guide, Comprehensive Pain Management will tell you how to manage lower back pain after epidural injections. Read on to learn more
7 Ways to Manage Lower Back Pain After an Epidural Injection
There are several effective ways to ease lower back pain after an epidural injection. Some methods focus on relaxing tight muscles, others reduce swelling or improve movement, and some help support the spine as it heals. Below, we share 7 ways to manage lower back pain after epidural injection so you can feel better and recover safely.
Massages
After an epidural injection, the muscles around the lower back, hips, and glutes often tighten up to protect the area, which can increase pain and stiffness. A trained massage therapist helps relieve this by using gentle pressure, slow strokes, and light stretching on these muscles.
This releases tight spots, improves blood flow, and helps the muscles relax. As the tension goes down, the lower back feels less painful and moves more easily.
Rest
After an epidural injection in Scottsdale, your lower back can be sore and more sensitive than usual. Rest gives your body time to heal and helps prevent the pain from getting worse. Take it easy for the first day and avoid lifting heavy things, twisting your back, or sitting for long periods.
Some rest is helpful, but staying in bed all day can make your muscles stiff and slow recovery. Try to get up for short, gentle walks or light movements throughout the day. This balance of rest and small movements supports healing and helps manage lower back pain.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Cold and heat therapy can help manage lower back pain after epidural injection. During the first two days, use a cold pack to lower swelling and numb the painful area. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and place it on the lower back for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
After two days, switch to heat. A warm pack or heating pad helps relax tight muscles and improves blood flow, which can reduce stiffness and make movement easier. Always place a cloth between the pack and your skin to avoid irritation.
Exercise
After an epidural injection, the lower back muscles can become stiff from limited movement. Gentle activity helps keep the muscles active, improves blood flow, and supports healing, which can manage lower back pain after epidural injection in in Scottsdale
Here are simple things you can do:
- Take short, slow walks around your home.
- Stretch the hips and lower back gently.
- Try easy exercises like bridges or leg lifts if your provider approves them.
- Move carefully and stop if you feel sharp pain.
- Avoid exercises that twist your back or put too much pressure on it.
This video can help you learn simple, effective ways to manage back pain.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can help manage lower back pain after epidural injection by improving how the joints and muscles in the lower back move. The chiropractor uses specific hands‑on techniques, such as gentle spinal adjustments and steady pressure on tight muscles, to free joints that are stiff and reduce muscle tension around the spine.
This can lower pain, make it easier to bend and turn, and help you move with less soreness during daily activities. Always talk to your pain management doctor in Scottsdale before starting chiropractic treatment after an injection.
Over-the-Counter Medications
After an epidural injection, the area around the lower back can become sore or swollen. Over‑the‑counter medicines can help manage lower back pain after an epidural injection by reducing pain, swelling, and muscle discomfort.
Here are some options and how they help:
- Ibuprofen or naproxen reduce swelling and inflammation in the tissues around the injection area, which can lower pressure on nearby nerves and reduce pain.
- Acetaminophen helps block pain signals in the brain, which can make the pain feel less intense even though it does not reduce swelling.
- Pain‑relief creams or gels are applied to the skin near the lower back and can create a cooling or warming effect that helps relax sore muscles and reduce discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps manage lower back pain after epidural injection by helping the muscles in the lower back relax and move better. They help you by:
- Teaching gentle stretches that loosen tight or sore muscles after the injection.
- Guiding you through simple strengthening exercises that support the lower back and make movement easier.
- Showing you safer ways to sit, stand, walk, and bend so you do not irritate the injection area.
- Helping reduce stiffness and improve how your lower back moves during daily activities.
What Pain Is Normal After an Epidural Injection?
After an epidural injection, you may experience mild to moderate lower back pain, usually described as a dull ache or soreness around the injection site. This pain typically lasts between 1 to 3 days and should gradually improve each day as your body heals. The discomfort is generally manageable and should never feel sharp or severe.
If you need expert guidance on how to manage lower back pain after epidural injection in Scottsdale, Dr. James KellerShabrokh, D.O. at CPM can help you find relief with over 30 years of experience. Call us at (602) 971-8200 to schedule a consultation and get personalized care.
When to Call Doctor for Pain After an Epidural Injection
It’s normal to feel some soreness or mild discomfort for a day or 2 after an epidural injection. However, you should contact your doctor if the pain seems unusual or you notice any worrying symptoms. Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience:
- Severe or increasing pain that doesn’t improve with rest or medication
- Redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection site
- Fever or chills, which could mean infection
- Sudden numbness, weakness, or tingling in your legs or arms
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Headache that gets worse when sitting or standing but improves when lying down
Final Thoughts
To successfully manage lower back pain after epidural injection in in Scottsdale, it’s important to follow a balanced routine of gentle movement and rest that supports healing and reduces discomfort. Consistent self-care helps relieve muscle tightness and swelling, promoting a smoother recovery. Everyone responds differently, so personalized guidance is key for the best results.
Dr. James KellerShabrokh, D.O. at AZ Comprehensive Pain Management brings over 30 years of experience to help you manage your pain effectively. Call (602) 971-8200 to schedule a consultation and start your path to feeling better.
FAQs
How long does it take for back pain from an epidural to go away?
Pain usually gets better in a few days. For some people, it takes a week or more.
Should I still have back pain after epidural steroid injection?
Some pain after the injection is normal. If it gets worse or lasts too long, talk to your provider.
How to get rid of epidural side effects?
Use rest, ice, heat, light movement, and medication. Always talk to your doctor if symptoms last.
What are the symptoms of a bad epidural?
Watch for numbness, weakness, trouble walking, loss of control over bladder or bowels, or high fever. Contact your provider if these happen.
I had my january seventh, the first three days.It felt fine for then.Now I have pain all the way down to my leg, down to my foot, and and in my back, I had the treatment with the shots.And stuff
Hi, thank you for reaching out. We’re sorry to hear your pain has returned and spread. Sometimes, symptoms like this need a closer look to find the real cause. A proper follow-up with one of our providers can help guide you to the right treatment. We recommend requesting an appointment through our website so we can help you feel better.