Epidurals: Pain Management for Various Back Conditions
The treatment of certain back conditions can take time. We can numb the pain in the meantime with epidurals, which are some of the most common pain management procedures. It involves an injection in the epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal where the nerves and spinal cord are located.
Types of epidurals include:
- Caudal Epidural: An injection in the lower area of the spine to treat lower back problems.
- Transforaminal Epidural: An injection is made in the foraminal canal, the opening where nerves exit the spine.
- Trigger Point Injections: A numbing, cortisone-type medication delivered into a painful area of knotted muscle. When successful, these injections deactivate the nerve trigger point, reducing pain, swelling, and associated inflammation.