What is a
Transforaminal Injection?
PROCEDURE LENGTH
About 20 minutes
INCISION SIZE
No incision
NO HOSPITAL STAY
Outpatient procedure
What Is a Transforaminal Injection?
A transforaminal injection injects a long-acting steroid into the foramen – an opening at the side of the spine where the nerve roots exit. The medication goes just outside the spinal canal. This injection is intended to reduce swelling and inflammation of the nerve roots and surrounding tissue, which ultimately reduces pain, numbness, and other irritating symptoms. It some cases, the injection is used to locate a specific spinal nerve root as the source of back pain.
Used To Treat These Conditions
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces in the spine, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Transforaminal Injection?
You may be a good candidate for a transforaminal injection if traditional pain medications are not helping the pain; you continually experience leg numbness as a result of your back issues; you are not taking any blood thinning medication; or you do not have an active infection.
How Will I Feel After the Injection?
You may experience immediate temporary relief after the procedure that could last up to several hours. Once the numbing agent wears off, your pain may return. This does not mean that the steroid did not help. The steroid medication typically takes up to 10 days to begin having an effect in most people.
