Montvale Surgical Center is an outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) where minimally invasive pain management and podiatry procedures are performed. Our facility provides cost-effective services in a convenient, relaxed environment. Our patients arrive on the day of their procedure, have their surgery in a fully equipped operating room and recover under the care of highly skilled nurses — all without hospital admission.

Our procedures offer a safe and long lasting alternative to medications and surgery.

Lumbar Epidural Nerve Block

This treatment can be performed in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar area. If it is in the cervical or thoracic area an intravenous will be placed for access. You will need to stop all blood thinning medicines prior to the procedure to avoid increased risk of bleeding. Our protocol for stopping medication is 10 days for aspirin and plavix, 3 to 5 days NSAIDS (motrin, aleve, advil, feldene, mobic, and others) and 7 to 10 days for coumadin with also having blood levels checked prior to the procedure.

This procedure will use flouro guidance (low-dose X-ray). This procedure is usually completed in a series of three treatments, 2 to 3 weeks apart.

An epidural steroid injection is indicated for conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated & bulging discs and degenerative disc disease.

The nurse will perform a short assessment and provide you with suitable attire. You will lie on your stomach for approximately 10-20 minutes and a radiological technologist, nurse, and physician will be present during the entire procedure.

There are two options of anesthesia, a local topical anesthetic or sedation. With the local anesthesia you can drive home after the procedure. If sedation is used, you must fast 8 hours prior to procedure and have a ride home as you will be drowsy for 2-4 hours.

When the area is numb a needle will be positioned at the appropriate location and spinal level. Through this needle a long acting anti-inflammatory (steroid) called Kenalog will be placed. You may notice immediate relief but it many cases relief will occur 3-5 days following the procedure.

You will be required to maintain light activities for 48 hours. After this time period you may increase your activities slowly.

Pain may be exacerbated (worsened) for the first 48 hours. This procedure is very safe and complications are very rare but include skin infection, bruising, hematoma and spinal headache. These side effects can all be treated by the physician if necessary.

*Aspirin and other blood-thinning medication must be stopped prior to this procedure (includes most anti-inflammatory medication).