Sciatica pain can be difficult to treat. And in many cases, doctors recommend a course of treatments intended to let the condition resolve itself over time. What if sciatica is debilitating? What of it hangs on for a long time and begins to interrupt a person’s daily life? One option is to get transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESI).
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections are by no means a permanent solution to sciatica. But fortunately, most cases of sciatica are not permanent either. The condition is a temporary one that will often resolve if the root cause is addressed. Electing TESI can provide temporary pain relief long enough to address those root causes.
What Causes Sciatica
Sciatica is nerve pain associated with the longest and thickest nerve in the human body: the sciatic nerve. This nerve begins at the base of the spine and travels through the pelvis and then down through each thigh and leg. When it gets irritated, pain can be one of the symptoms. That pain is diagnosed as sciatica.
The pain might be the result of an injury to the nerve. It might also be due to simple nerve irritation. Either way, sciatic pain tends to radiate from the affected spot on the nerve. It is known to cause tingling and numbness in the buttocks, pelvis, and thighs.
Treating Sciatica With TESI
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections are one of the therapies recommended by Lone Star Pain Medicine for sciatica pain. The Weatherford, TX pain management clinic says TESI can offer significant relief for many patients.
Lone Star doctors explain that TESI is a simple procedure that involves injecting a combination of corticosteroids and anesthetic into the spinal column through foramina – tiny openings through which spinal cord nerves pass as they connect with other parts of the body.
A patient undergoing a TESI procedure lies on their stomach. The doctor uses a fluoroscope to view the spine and choose an injection site. The needle is guided to the correct spot with the fluoroscope. At that point, medication is injected and the needle removed. The injection wound is bandaged and that’s that.
The anesthetic portion of the medication provides immediate pain relief. Meanwhile, the corticosteroids go to work to reduce nerve inflammation. Between the two, patients can expect at least temporary pain relief that improves function and range of motion. Persistent reduction of nerve inflammation facilitates sciatica resolving itself.
Why Choose the Procedure
So, why would somebody choose transforaminal epidural injections over other treatments? For starters, the treatment is generally not recommended for someone with mild sciatic pain. It is normally reserved for patients whose pain is either severe or chronic. That being the case, there are a number of reasons people choose TESI:
- Immediate Relief – TESI provides immediate relief, albeit temporary. But even temporary relief is better than nothing at all when sciatica persists.
- Fewer Medications – TESI might allow some patients to reduce their dependence on pain medications. To some people, this is important.
- Minimally Invasive – In severe cases where more drastic treatments are recommended, TESI is an alternative for those looking for a minimally invasive option. TESI is performed with a simple injection.
- Last Resort – Finally, some people choose TESI as a last resort treatment. Nothing else has worked, including pain medications.
It is important to note that TESI is not the best treatment for every case of sciatica. It is an option when sciatica is severe enough to disrupt daily activities or persistent in hanging on. The best person to advise about TESI’s appropriateness is a pain management doctor.
