Overview
This outpatient procedure is an injection of a steroid-anesthetic medication. The medication can reduce swelling and inflammation of irritated spinal nerves. This procedure is performed to relieve pain in the lower back and pain that radiates from the back to the legs. The injection takes only a few minutes to complete.
Preparation
In preparation for the procedure, the patient lies face down. A cushion is placed under the abdomen, which causes the spine to bend in a way that opens the spaces on the sides of the spine. These spaces are called the foramina.
Anesthetic Injected
A local anesthetic is administered to numb the skin and the tissue that covers the spine.
Needle Inserted
Contrast Solution Injected
Medication Injected
After the needle’s position has been confirmed, the physician injects a steroid-anesthetic medication. This medication bathes the irritated nerve roots and helps alleviate the patient’s pain.
End of Procedure
When the procedure is complete, the physician removes the needle and bandages the insertion site. The patient may feel significant relief after one injection, while some patients may need multiple injections to experience the full benefit of the medication.
