Pain Treatments
Lumbar Epidural Injection
A transforaminal epidural injection is an injection given to the low back (lumbar spine). A lumbar transforaminal epidural injection may help reduce back, buttock, hip, and pain as a result of damage to the discs in the low back or arthritis.
How is a lumbar epidural injection performed?
The doctor will numb your low back with medication back. Then, guided by an x-ray, he will:
Insert a thin needle into your low back and look at the placement under x-ray
Inject dye to confirm that medication is administered into the correct space
Inject a steroid (for longer term relief) or platelet rich plasma
The medicine then spreads in the epidural space, thereby hopefully reducing nerve inflammation and pain. Usually, the procedure takes less than 15 minutes and you can go home the same day.
How effective is an epidural injection?
What are the risks?
What happens after the procedure?
