Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection at Apex Interventional Pain & Spine

Thoracic transforaminal epidural steroid injection is an interventional pain management procedure for pain in the neck, upper back, ribs, abdomen, and lower back caused by inflamed spinal nerve roots. The treatment includes injecting pain-relieving corticosteroid medications directly into the epidural space, the space between the vertebrae and the spinal cord.

Transforaminal refers to “through the foramina,” where foramina are the openings where the spinal nerves radiate to other body parts. Epidural means on or around the dura mater, the thick membrane that encases the spinal cord. In this procedure, the needle is placed through the foramina, and the steroid medications are injected around the spine and not into the spinal cord or nerves.

Chronic back pain can be debilitating and negatively impact your life. The thoracic transforaminal epidural steroid injection allows you greater mobility and pain-free life.

Am I a Candidate for Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?

You can be a candidate if you have:

Chronic back pain.
No pain relief from other conservative treatments and therapies.
Not a candidate for surgical interventions.

What Conditions Does a Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Treat?

It is used to treat several conditions, including:

Lower back pain
Sciatica
Foraminal stenosis
Spinal stenosis
Spinal compression
Spondylolysis
Spondylolisthesis

Thoracic herniated disc
Thoracic radiculopathy
Degenerative disc disease
Scoliosis
Bone spurs
Spinal nerve damage
Idiopathic nerve pain

What to Expect During Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection?

The treatment can be divided into 3 stages:

1. Before the Injection:

Your doctor will enquire about:

Your medical history
Allergies to contrast dyes or medications
Recent health issues
Whether you are pregnant
Your current medications

They will provide some guidelines as preparatory measures for the injection, such as:

Discontinue certain medicines, including blood thinners, for a few days.
Do not eat or drink for a few hours till the procedure.
Ask someone to drive you home.

They may also perform imaging tests to learn more about your back’s structure.

2. During the Injection:

The procedure takes about 30 minutes. It involves the following:

You lie on your stomach or one side.
Your doctor administers medication that keeps you comfortable.
They disinfect and numb the injection site on your back.
They inject the needle using fluoroscopy to ensure correct needle placement targeting the nerve root.
They may inject contrast dye to better visualize the exact location where the medicine containing anesthetic (pain) and steroid (anti-inflammatory) drugs needs to be injected.
When the medication is injected, you may experience some pressure or a pins-and-needles sensation but no pain.

3. After the Injection:

You will be observed for some time after the procedure to check for allergic reactions and then discharged. Keep note of the following:

If anesthesia was used during the procedure, avoid driving for the next 24 hours.
Your arms may feel numb for a few hours.
Your pain may increase but eventually subsides within a week after the procedure.

Benefits/Risks of Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

It offers several benefits for chronic back pain patients, such as:

Non-surgical and minimally invasive procedure.
Offers long-term pain relief for several spinal conditions.
Quick procedure that can be completed within half an hour.
Outpatient procedure, allowing you to return home the same day.
Minimal risks of side effects.
Minimal downtime.
Provides full benefits within just a week.

While the risks are minimal, they may include:

Soreness at the injection site
Numbness in your limbs
Dizziness
Headache

In rare cases, the risks of transforaminal epidural steroid injection include:

Prolonged numbness and weakness
Worsening pain
Bleeding or infection at the injection site
Nerve injury

Why Choose Apex Interventional Pain & Spine?

Apex Interventional Pain & Spine offers advanced pain care to our patients in Coppell, Carrollton, Grapevine, TX, and surrounding areas. Our team, led by Dr. Mohammad I. Khan, a board-certified physician in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain management, offers personalized treatment plans ranging from minimally invasive interventional pain procedures to multimodal treatments for several acute and chronic conditions.

A few highlights of our exceptional services are:

Get Seen Promptly
State-of-the-Art Office
Convenient Location
Insurance Accepted

Receive Effective Chronic Back Pain Care at Apex Interventional Pain & Spine

Are you looking for an epidural and steroid injection for back pain? Apex Interventional Pain & Spine offers specialized treatments for chronic back pain, including thoracic transforaminal epidural steroid injections in Coppell, Carrollton, Grapevine, TX, and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Request an appointment Call Us: (972) 833-PAIN (7246)

FAQs

You can go home within a few hours after the procedure.

If you are given a sedative during the procedure, you may need a ride, or else you can drive yourself.

While some patients experience pain relief right away, it usually takes 24-72 hours for the steroid medications to act.

The number of injections may vary depending on the nerve root inflammation and pain intensity. You can have 3 to 6 transforaminal epidural steroid injections per year.

Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Coppell, Carrollton, and Grapevine, TX