What is a transforaminal injection?
Medications such as steroid preparations and anesthetics can be injected into the spine using different approaches. The most common approach has been from the back going between the vertebra to place the needle in the epidural space. A solution is then injected which hopefully will disperse within the space and come in contact with the area that is inflamed. However, this requires a larger amount of solution and may not actually get to the area that is involved. Another way to do the injection is with a somewhat more targeted approach where the needle is placed directly at the site where the affected nerve comes out of the spine. This is at the foramen which is opening where the nerves exit the spine. Here you can see the spinal nerve exiting the spine. Why is it helpful? A transforaminal injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space where the nerve leaves the spine to stop inflammation of the nerve roots, therefore hopefully reducing the pain. By stopping or limi
