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A thoracic epidural steroid injection is an injection of anti-inflammatory steroids into your middle spine (the thoracic region). The primary objective of these injections is to reduce painful irritation in your mid-back or ribs.
Thoracic epidural steroid injections can treat pain caused by degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, or other conditions. They can provide pain relief for months and can be repeated if your pain returns.
At The Spine Care Center, our pain medicine experts perform thousands of epidural steroid injections each year. Thanks to their years of experience and medical precision, the majority of our patients are able to find lasting pain relief without resorting to back surgery.
These injections do not require much in terms of preparation. Your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink for a time before your injection if you are receiving sedation. They may also ask you to stop taking certain medicines before your procedure, depending on the medications you currently take. Always tell your doctor if you are taking herbs or supplements.
You will also need to find a designated driver to take you home after the procedure.
At The Spine Care Center, we perform epidural steroid injections in our relaxing and comfortable procedure suite. We strive to make all of our patients feel as comfortable as possible, and we can provide you with sedation to further calm you and reduce your pain during the procedure.
After you are sedated, your physician will inject a local anesthetic in order to numb the injection site. They will then insert a special contrast dye into your spine. This dye allows your doctor to guide the needle directly into the area causing you pain. The medicine is then slowly injected and spreads to the inflamed area.
After the injection is complete, your doctor will bandage the injection site and you will be monitored by our staff while you come out of sedation.
If you were sedated for your procedure, you will need to stay at our office for approximately 30 minutes after the injection. We will monitor and clear you for discharge, and you can then be driven home by a friend or family member. You should rest and apply ice to your injection site if it feels tender.
You will be able to return to your normal activities the next day. You may start to feel the benefit of the steroid injection as soon the next day or soon thereafter. You may experience rare, but mild side effects, such as a flushed face, insomnia, or anxiety. If you are concerned about side effects, you should always speak to your physician.
Don’t live with back pain when effective treatments are available. Call The Spine Care Center in Manassas today or request an appointment online to learn more about thoracic epidural steroid injections.