Welcome to Pain & Spine Institute in Joliet, IL, where we help you find relief from chronic pain through innovative treatments like thoracic epidural steroid injection. Living with chronic pain is a daily grind, but understanding your pain and getting the right treatment can make all the difference in your quality of life. Let’s talk about how thoracic epidural steroid injections can help you take control and live pain-free.
What is Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a condition that affects millions worldwide and often comes from both acute and chronic conditions like degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs. This type of pain can severely impact your daily activities and overall enjoyment of life. It’s not just a physical burden; it can also cause emotional and psychological stress. At Pain & Spine Institute, we believe in addressing the root of the pain and working with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. Getting medical attention is the first step to understanding and managing your chronic pain.
What is a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection?
A thoracic epidural steroid injection is a minimally invasive procedure to relieve pain and inflammation in the thoracic spine. It’s an injection of steroid medication into the epidural space around the spinal cord. This is great for conditions like degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. The procedure is done under fluoroscopy guidance to make sure the medication is placed exactly where it needs to be. It’s an outpatient procedure, so you can go home on the same day. By targeting the source of the pain, these injections can give you great relief and get you back to your daily activities.
How it Works
Thoracic epidural steroid injections are a minimally invasive procedure to relieve chronic pain in the mid-back. The procedure is an injection of steroid medication into the epidural space around the spinal cord. This space is outside the dura mater, a protective membrane that surrounds the spinal cord. Steroid medication will reduce inflammation and swelling in the area, which will help relieve pain and discomfort.
The procedure starts with the patient lying on their stomach. The skin is then cleaned and prepared with an antiseptic solution. A local anesthetic is given to numb the skin and underlying tissue. Using fluoroscopy (a special x-ray), the doctor will guide a needle into the epidural space. Once the needle is in place, the steroid medication is injected into the epidural space. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes.
Conditions Treated with Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injections
Thoracic epidural steroid injections can treat:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated discs
- Chronic and acute pain in the thoracic spine
- Facet joint pain
- Sympathetic nerve pain
- Facet joints
- Leg pain
- Neck pain
If you have any of these conditions, our team at Pain & Spine Institute can evaluate your symptoms and determine if a thoracic epidural steroid injection is right for you.
Who is a Candidate for Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injections?
Thoracic epidural steroid injections are for patients who have chronic pain in the mid-back. This type of pain can be from a variety of conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs. Patients who have not responded to other treatments, such as physical therapy and medication, may also be candidates for this procedure.
To be a candidate for thoracic epidural steroid injections, you must:
- Chronic pain in the mid-back
- Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or herniated discs
- Not responding to other treatments, such as physical therapy and medication
- Good overall health
Benefits of Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injections
Having a thoracic epidural steroid injection can give you:
- Relief from chronic pain
- Reduced inflammation
- Increased mobility and ability to do daily activities
- Minimally invasive procedure with a short recovery time
- Compatible with physical medicine and sports medicine
These injections can be part of a complete pain management plan so you can live an active life.
Other Treatment Options
While thoracic epidural steroid injections are great, Pain & Spine Institute also offers other options for different needs:
- Minimally invasive lumbar decompression
- Cervical epidural steroid injection
- Lumbar epidural steroid injection
- Facet joint injection
- Medial branch block
- Herniated disc treatment
We offer multiple options so we can tailor to each patient’s needs for the best results.
What to Expect
Knowing what to expect during a thoracic epidural steroid injection can help calm any nerves. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes and goes like this:
- You will be lying on your stomach or side, depending on where the injection is.
- A local anesthetic will be given to numb the skin so you won’t feel anything.
- A special needle will be used to inject the steroid medication into the epidural space under fluoroscopy for precision.
- Some discomfort during the procedure is normal but usually mild and brief.
After the procedure, most patients can get back to their daily activities quickly, and many will get significant pain relief right away.
What to Expect After the Procedure
After the procedure, patients can expect some relief from their chronic pain. The steroid medication can take a few days to kick in, but the effects can last for several months. Some patients may feel some soreness or discomfort at the injection site, but this is usually mild and temporary.
Patients can go home within 30-60 minutes after the procedure. It’s recommended that patients have someone drive them home and take care of them for the first 12 hours after the procedure. Patients can get back to their normal activities in a few days, but it’s recommended that they don’t lift heavy weights or bend for several weeks.
Patients should also follow up with their doctor after the procedure to check on their progress and adjust their plan as needed.
Contact Pain and Spine
Thoracic epidural steroid injections are a safe way to manage thoracic spine chronic pain. At Pain & Spine Institute, we want to help you get relief so you can get back to what you love. If you think a thoracic epidural steroid injection is for you, talk to our healthcare professionals to discuss your options and get a plan customized to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thoracic epidural steroid injections have a high success rate for temporary pain relief, with many patients getting significant pain and mobility improvement.
The duration of pain relief varies but can be weeks to several months.
Some patients may feel mild soreness at the injection site or temporary numbness. Serious side effects are rare, but talk to your doctor.
No, it’s recommended someone drive you home. You may feel numbness or weakness from the local anesthetic.
