Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/9/2007

Question
An orthopaedic wrote a script for me Which says "ESI X 3
                                 DX: L/4-L/5 & L5- S1 HNP
Please deccribe procedure and Medicine type .?


Answer
epidural steroid injections, three times. Diagnosis: herniated nucleus pulposus between Lumbar vertebrae 4 and 5 and between Lumbar 5 and Sacral 1.

It means you have 2 herniated disks and they are going to try putting steroids in the epidural space to reduce the swelling and hopefully reverse the herniation.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston