Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

What is this procedure?

This procedure of giving an injection on the back.

It is performed to relieve back pain(upper back, mid or low back) with radiating leg pain.

The steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation of nerve root.

Nerve root swelling can be caused by spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, sciatica and herniated discs.

This procedure is performed by fluoroscope(X ray) Guided

The patient lies face down(prone position). A cushion or pillow is placed under the stomach area to provide comfort and to band the spine forward.

This position causes the spine to open, allowing for easier access to the targeted site.

The physician uses a fluoroscope (type of X Ray machine) to locate the appropriate lumbar vertebra and nerve root, then a local anaesthetic injected to numbs the skin.

Then the physician slides a thin bent needle with a slightly curved point through the anesthetized track up to the targeted nerve root or foramina (the gap in spine from which the nerve root exits) With the aid of the fluoroscope, the physician carefully guides the needle into the foraminal space near the nerve root.

The physician injects a contrast solution and uses the fluoroscope to see the painful areas and confirm the correct location of the needle tip.

A steroid-anesthetics mix is injected into the foraminal epidural space, bathing the painful&swellen nerve root with soothing medication, which reduces the nerve swelling.
Majority of the steroid remains at the site of injection. Hence it is safer then oral or regular injection of steroid short.

The needle is removed, after the injection of medication.
In some cases it may be necessary to repeat the procedure as many as three times to provide the full benefit of the medication. However many patients feel significant relief from only one or two injections.