Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
There are many different steroid injections that can be used to relieve lower back pain and sciatica symptoms. Lumbar spinal conditions such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and other spinal issues can irritate nerve roots, resulting in both localized and radiating pain. When the pain radiates down one hip and leg, a steroid injection near the nerve root can provide relief. Our pain management experts at DOCS Health offer lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections for lumbar radiculopathy and back pain at our medical center in Los Angeles, CA.
The lumbar spine is a common source of low back and leg pain. The nerves that exit the lumbar spine travel down the lower back, through the pelvis and down into each leg. When a bulging disc or other lumbar spinal condition presses on nerve roots, it can result in pain that radiates from the lower back into the legs. This is often called sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy, referring to radiating nerve pain. Epidural steroid injections, or ESI, are often used to reduce irritation of the nerve roots to relieve radiating lower back pain conditions.
Guided Lumbar Transforaminal ESI
Transforaminal injections refer to the position of the needle when it enters into the epidural space. There are a few different ways to guide a needle to the epidural space, depending on the symptoms and source of nerve root irritation. For radiating lower back and leg pain, lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections may be recommended. These injections deliver a long-lasting steroid into the epidural space around the nerve roots by entering the side of the spinal column where the nerve roots exit. This area is called the neuroforamen, which is a common place for nerve entrapment that can cause chronic pain.
Lumbar transforaminal ESI treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis. Our pain specialists utilize advanced imaging to guide the steroid injection safely and effectively to the affected nerve roots in the epidural space. The steroid can provide relief from nerve irritation in a few days after the procedure and may continue to relieve pain for a few months or longer.
If you have low back or radiating leg pain, contact our team at DOCS Health to explore your treatment options. Call our medical facility in Beverly Hills, CA, to schedule your low back pain consultation.