Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection in Madison, WI

What Is a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection?

This is a minimally invasive injection that involves administering a corticosteroid similar to cortisone to the thoracic region in the space outside of your spinal cord. An area that covers the dura of your spinal cord in your lower back.

A thoracic epidural steroid injection helps block pain receptors along your spinal nerves and reduces pain signals by administering a local anesthetic directly onto your nerve. After the administration, you’ll usually experience less pain and less inflammation in your nerve root. The results of this treatment can temporarily last up to 12 months.

The purpose of these injections isn’t to act as a cure for spinal conditions but rather to help effectively manage them and diminish the pain linked to them. Some of the spinal conditions that a thoracic epidural steroid injection may treat are herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet joint syndrome, radicular pain, and compression fractures.

If you have any of these spinal conditions or symptoms linked to them, it’s worthwhile booking an appointment with our profound pain management physicians. All licensed board members with decades of experience they provide a steady, safe, and patient-centric approach to your consultation and treatment.

How is a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection Performed?

After meeting one of our specialists for an initial consultation, they’ll likely refer you for a more detailed look at your spinal nerves. One or several advanced diagnostic imaging tests such as a CT or MRI scan will be arranged. This will help them ensure the accuracy of the injection and know the right area to target.

Upon discussion of the results, if they feel you need an injection, they will advise you to stop taking certain medications and fast prior to the procedure.

On the day of the procedure, you can expect to undergo the following:

1. You’ll be laid face down on an x-ray table.
2. Your physician will take live x-rays (fluoroscopy), producing images in real time to prepare for the proper positioning of the injection.
3. Then, they’ll clean your upper back and inject a local anesthetic so you feel no pain.
4. They’ll then insert the epidural needle into the location and use a contrast dye to ensure they target the right nerve.
5. After this, they’ll slowly inject a corticosteroid into the epidural area.
6. Once injected, they will remove the epidural needle and apply a dressing to the site.

A thoracic epidural steroid injection is relatively painless and can be done within 20 minutes. After the injection, they will likely keep you in for up to 60 minutes for observation. You’ll also be advised not to drive for 12 hours afterward. If you experience no pain relief the following week, book a further appointment.

What Happens After a Thoracic Epidural Injection?

After the procedure, you typically will need to wait a short while before going home. Your healthcare provider can then watch for any reactions to the shot. You should be able to go back home within the hour. You may need to rest for the remainder of the day. But you should be able to resume your normal activities the next day. If you took medicine to help you relax, you shouldn’t drive or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours.

You may not notice any improvement right after your shot. The shot may take as much as a week or so before it starts to ease the pain. Any benefit may last for a few months. If the injection controls your pain while your back is slowly healing on its own, the pain may not return at all.

What are the Risks of a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection?

A thoracic epidural is a fairly safe procedure, but it does carry some risks. To help reduce these problems, healthcare providers usually use X-rays to guide them. Possible risks include bleeding, infection, temporary nerve paralysis, temporary increase in pain, rash because of an allergic reaction and headache from unintentionally inserting the needle into the spinal cord.

There is also a chance that the shot won’t ease your pain. Your own risks may differ. They depend on your age, your other medical conditions, and the reason for the shot. It might not make sense for you if you have certain health conditions. These include an infection, a bleeding disorder, or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Talk with your healthcare provider at our pain management center in Wisconsin about your specific risks and concerns.