Consisting of naturally occurring minerals, Traumeel is a homeopathic substance.
For patients looking for a natural alternative to corticosteroid (cortisone) injections (sometimes administered when seeking pain relief with epidural injections), Traumeel may produce the desired results. As is the case with synthetic steroid medication treatments, injections with Traumeel are meant to treat conditions affected by inflammation, such as sciatica.
- For decades, athletes in the United States would travel to Europe to receive epidural injections with this botanical extract.
- It’s now becoming increasingly available in the U.S. as a pain management option that may improve healing abilities by keeping inflammation in check.
What Is Traumeel?
Traumeel is mainly comprised of natural compounds from the arnica montana root. These compounds are used to create a plant extract that’s also used to make pain-relieving creams and tablets to ease inflammation. A combination of a dozen natural ingredients that work together to ease pain stemming from nerve compression and swelling, this naturally formulated homeopathic remedy can also be prepared as a substance used in epidural shots. Injections of this nature are so-named because they are inserted into the epidural space around the spinal cord.
How Does Traumeel Compare to Corticosteroids?
Traumeel is a homeopathic substance. Corticosteroids are a laboratory-created version of hormones normally produced by the body. Since Traumeel is plant-based, it normally does not produce any side effects. Corticosteroids are considered safe when properly administered. However, there are also potential side effects associated with man-made steroid medications, such as muscle weakness, a loss of potassium, high blood pressure, easy bruising, and slow wound healing.
Conditions It Helps
Injections of Traumeel are used to treat a variety of conditions that may produce musculoskeletal inflammation. Soft tissue injuries involving muscles, ligaments, and tendons, including sprains and strains, tend to respond better to injections with this cortisone substitute.
This pain management remedy has a long history of being used by athletes. However, it may benefit anyone with an inflammation-based condition or injury contributing to symptoms in a specific area. In some cases, Traumeel injections may be recommended if traditional epidural injections aren’t effective. Epidural injections with Traumeel may also reduce inflammation and pain related to:
- Pelvic and hip pain
- Soft tissue tears
- Lower back pain
- Sports-related injuries
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain or piriformis syndrome
- Minor symptoms related to arthritis
How Are Injections Administered?
Prior to the injection being given, image tests are usually done to confirm the suspected source of nerve irritation. A local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, is often used to ease discomfort from the injection as it’s placed into the epidural space. Traumeel injections can be used immediately after an injury is sustained to reduce swelling and facilitate the healing process. Most patients are able to fully resume normal activities within 24 hours.
Before any type of epidural injections are recommended, pain management efforts typically involve therapeutic exercises, temporary bracing, hot and cold therapy, and the use of pain and/or anti-inflammatory medications. If epidural injections with Traumeel do provide sufficient results, you may be able to be more of an active participant during regular physical therapy sessions, which could ultimately contribute to long-term relief.