Thoracic Epidural Injection
What is a thoracic epidural injection?
A thoracic epidural injection is a procedure that helps ease pain in your thoracic region. That’s the upper to middle part of your back. Medicine is injected into an area around your spinal cord known as the epidural space.
Why might I need a thoracic epidural injection?
If you have middle or upper back pain, your healthcare provider may first suggest other treatments. These include painkillers and physical therapy. If these treatments don’t work, a thoracic epidural injection might be of help to you. It may be best if you have had moderate to severe pain for at least three months.
A thoracic epidural injection may provide pain relief for several different types of back problems, like:
Injuries causing irritation of the spinal nerves
- Thoracic disc herniation with pain radiating into your back or arm
- Thoracic post-surgical spine syndrome
- Thoracic spinal stenosis
- Post herpetic neuralgia
This injection may reduce swelling around the spinal nerve roots. It can help ease your pain in the area for weeks to months.
How do I get ready for a thoracic epidural injection?
You will initially be assessed for fitness to undergo the procedure and you will be asked about any previous problems with contrast dye or allergies to medicines. If you are on blood thinning medications like warfarin or clopidogrel you will be given instructions on how and when to stop these medications before the procedure.
You may be told not to eat or drink anything for 6 hours before your procedure. You should also have someone available to drive you home afterward.
What happens during a thoracic epidural injection?
At Atlas Pain Care, Coimbatore, this procedure is done in an operating room under X ray guidance. You will be assisted to position on the procedure table lying on your abdomen with a pillow under your hips and abdomen. Local anaesthetic will be used to numb your skin in the back before the actual procedure needle is inserted. The tip of the needle is placed in the correct position using X-ray guidance and once the position is confirmed using a radio-opaque dye, the medicine is injected.
The injection itself might feel slightly uncomfortable. You may also feel some pressure. Some people feel a “pins and needles” sensation. That is normal. But you shouldn’t feel pain.
What are the risks of a thoracic epidural injection?
A thoracic epidural is a fairly safe procedure. Pain and soreness at the site of injection are the most common complications. Other complications like temporary increase in pain, headache, bleeding and infection are not common.
What happens after a thoracic epidural injection?
After the procedure, you will be observed for a couple of hours in the recovery room before going home. You may need to rest for the remainder of the day. But you should be able to resume your normal activities the next day. You might feel some numbness in your arms or legs, but that should go away within a few hours.
The injection may take as much as a week or so before it starts to ease the pain. Any benefit may last for a few months. You will be given more directions about what to do after your injection. Please read our FAQ section to know more about the do's and don'ts prior to and after the procedure.