What Is an Epidural Steroid Injection?
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive procedure in which corticosteroids are injected into the epidural space of the spine — the area between the outer covering of the spinal cord and the spinal canal — to reduce inflammation around compressed nerve roots. For personal injury patients with herniated discs causing radiculopathy, ESI is often the most effective non-surgical intervention for pain control and functional restoration.
ESI procedures are performed by fellowship-trained pain management specialists under fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to ensure precise needle placement. The procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes and is typically performed as an outpatient procedure with no hospital admission required.
WCB MTG Authorization for ESI
Under the NYS No-Fault Board Medical Treatment Guidelines, epidural steroid injections are covered procedures for radiculopathy confirmed by both imaging and clinical findings — but prior authorization is required before the procedure can be performed. The authorization request must demonstrate: a confirmed diagnosis of radiculopathy with specified nerve root involvement, supporting imaging findings (MRI showing disc herniation or foraminal narrowing), clinical correlation (physical examination findings consistent with the radicular distribution), and failure of conservative treatment as specified in the MTG protocol.
At MAIC, our pain management team manages all ESI authorization requests in-house. We prepare complete MTG-compliant authorization packages and handle all carrier correspondence, appeals, and reauthorization requests on your behalf.
ESI Documentation for Personal Injury Litigation
In personal injury litigation, the need for an epidural steroid injection — and the clinical response to it — is powerful evidence of injury severity. A carrier or defense IME physician cannot easily argue that injuries are "minor" in a patient who required interventional pain management. The procedure report, pre- and post-procedure pain ratings, and functional outcomes all contribute to the damages documentation package.
MAIC's pain management specialists produce detailed procedure reports and post-procedure follow-up notes structured for medico-legal use. All providers are available for deposition regarding ESI findings and outcomes.
To schedule an ESI consultation at MAIC's Bronx facility, call (888) 991-5290.