Low back pain that does not go away despite all painkillers used, exercises performed, and physical therapy methods applied seriously reduces patients’ quality of life. “Epidural and Transforaminal Injections,” which do not require surgical intervention and are mostly applied in patients with herniated discs, provide relief for persistent low back pain. Brain and Neurosurgery Specialist Op. Dr. Umut Yaka provided information about Epidural and Transforaminal Injections used for stubborn low back pain.
Applied in Low Back Pain That Does Not Respond to Treatment
Various injection methods used for low back pain provide rapid and complete improvement in many painful conditions of the lower back. Epidural and Transforaminal Injections are applied to patients who have used various medications for low back pain and have not benefited from them, who have also not achieved sufficient improvement in pain with physical therapy methods, and who do not require surgical intervention.
Epidural and Transforaminal Injections Are Also Used in Neck and Thoracic Disc Herniations
Epidural and Transforaminal Injections, which are mostly applied in patients with herniated lumbar discs, are used to eliminate edema in the early stage of herniation or in the herniated disc region, to reduce inflammation around the disc, and to decrease possible nerve root compression. While the absence of a significant side effect makes them more preferred by patients, they are more commonly chosen in disc-related low back and leg pain that does not resolve despite all treatments.
In addition to herniated lumbar discs, Epidural and Transforaminal Injections are also used in the treatment of herniations of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Just as in the lumbar region, pain completely disappears in the majority of patients in whom the procedure is performed.
Injections Are Also Effective in Determining the Source of Low Back Pain
Injections can also be applied diagnostically to determine the source of low back pain. In patients whose cause of pain cannot be fully identified through physical examination and imaging methods, various injections are used to determine from which structure of the lower back the pain originates.
Patients Are Discharged the Same Day After a 30-Minute Procedure
The Epidural and Transforaminal Injections procedure is performed after the patient is taken to a special intervention room, with the injection administered under the guidance of a special imaging method called fluoroscopy. Before the injection, local anesthesia is applied to the intervention area to ensure that the patient does not feel pain during the procedure. After the procedure, which takes about 30 minutes; the patient is taken to their room and discharged after a resting period of 3-4 hours. Much more satisfactory and long-lasting results are obtained in patients who protect their lower back and neck after the procedure and perform exercise and physical therapy movements.
