Transforaminol ESI

An epidural steroid injection is the injection of a small amount of anti-inflammatory, not muscle-building, steroid into the epidural space, outside the spinal cord, in the low back area. This can treat inflammation or irritation of the spinal cord or spinal nerves. The epidural space surrounds the spinal cord and spinal nerves, and insulates them from the spine bones and disks. Many things can irritate the spinal cord or spinal nerves and cause pain, numbness, and weakness. Examples would include herniated or bulging disks, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, arthritis changes, or scar tissue from previous spine surgeries. This type of pain, referred to as radicular or sciatic-like pain, is felt in the area of the body that the irritated nerves(s) go to (innervate). If the irritation or inflammation is treated effectively, then possibly all of the pain, numbness, or weakness will resolve, thus preventing the need for surgery. If, after a single injection, the relief is partial, the injection can be repeated to try to achieve complete relief.

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This is a very selective and precise procedure. It is different from regular epidural injections in that the needle is placed directly onto the area where, for example, a disc might have herniated. Given its specificity, it is usually used in pain conditions where the patient has shooting pain on one side.