Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Jackson, MS

Lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections are a treatment option for those who are suffering from chronic pain located in their low back as a means to provide long-lasting pain relief. The injection contains a steroid or corticosteroid that is an anti-inflammatory medicine and is injected into the epidural space of the back to reduce inflammation of the spinal nerve roots that are the cause of the irritation and pain. This pain can be caused by a number of injuries or health conditions, and this treatment option is typically used after trying physical therapy or other pain medications that have proven to provide limited or insufficient relief. The purpose of the injections is to provide relief for the pain to allow patients to return to living their lives comfortably to help them manage their chronic pain symptoms.

The healthcare provider that is administering the transforaminal epidural steroid injection will most likely inject a local anesthetic to the area before starting the procedure to minimize discomfort as the injecting of the medications without some sort of numbing will likely hurt. However, once the numbing agent is taking effect, the steroid injection will only provide a sensation of strong pressure or pinching rather than a sharp pain. If the patient receiving the transforaminal epidural steroid injection is experiencing a sharp pain during the procedure, they should notify the health care provider immediately. It is also possible for patients to choose to receive intravenous sedation during the procedure to further minimize discomfort and to help with nerves, making the procedure as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Following the procedure, patients will need to have someone drive them home as the local anesthetic will take some time to wear off. It is common for the arm or leg to feel heavy and a bit numb, but this should only last a few hours. Many patients may also experience mild irritation or soreness from where the needle was injected, but this should fade within a couple of days. It will take 3 to 4 days for the pain that is being treated to alleviate as it takes some time for the injected medications to start to take effect. Any immediate pain relief will be caused by the local anesthetic that was administered and will wear off before the injected steroids start to work. Many patients will be able to return to normal activities the next day, including returning to work, but it is also common to need a few hours following the procedure to just rest. Once the transforaminal epidural steroid injection starts to take effects, the pain relief will continue to develop and increase until the effects peak at around 2 weeks following administration. The medication will then stabilize and provide the longer-lasting pain relief from there.

The total timeline for which patients can experience pain relief after receiving a transforaminal epidural steroid injection varies a bit from person to person, with most patients being able to experience the relief for at least several months. Some patients will be able to experience the pain relief for several years, however, some patients will only experience pain relief for several weeks. This type of procedure works differently for everyone and is typically only recommended for those who have not had success through physical therapies or other types of pain medication but want to try minimally-invasive procedure before resorting to a surgical procedure. Patients who experience sufficient levels of pain relief from the lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections can continue to get the injections as the medication wears off in order to sustain the results.

Learn about epidural steroid injections, a minimally invasive pain-relieving procedure that lowers swelling and pressure. At Jackson Pain Center, we offer lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections. We are conveniently located at 1190 North State Street, Suite 102,  Jackson, MS 39202. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Jackson MS, Pearl MS, Ridgeland MS, Clinton MS, Byram MS, Richland MS, Florence MS, Madison MS,  Fondren MS, and surrounding areas.