The Benefits of Transforaminal Epidurals in Refractory Spinal Stenosis

When you have spinal stenosis, the spaces surrounding your spine have narrowed. As a result, nerves in the area are vulnerable to pinching and compression.

Refractory spinal stenosis is severe spinal stenosis that hasn’t responded to typical treatments. It can cause frustrating, debilitating, and stubborn symptoms — until, that is, you find treatment that works.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, offers epidural injections to bring spinal stenosis relief to good candidates.  

Below, Dr. Kang explores refractory spinal stenosis, including potential benefits of transforaminal epidurals.

Refractory spinal stenosis symptoms

Refractory spinal stenosis causes a range of severe symptoms that affect your limbs, back, neck, and mobility. Your symptoms may start out fairly mild and worsen over time.

Especially common symptoms include:

• Back pain
• Leg pain
• Limb weakness
• Neck pain 
• Numb or tingling limbs
• Trouble standing or walking

Over time, you might also experience difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels. Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control requires emergency treatment.

How transforaminal epidurals work

We may recommend transforaminal epidurals if your spinal stenosis hasn’t responded well to conservative treatments, such as medication and physical therapy.

Transforaminal epidurals place anesthetic and steroid medications into the space around your spine through a needle. Unlike other epidural injections, this type requires X-ray guidance for precision when targeting specific nerves.

While the anesthetic brings rapid pain relief, the steroid gradually eases by lowering inflammation.

Benefits of transforaminal epidurals for refractory stenosis

Transforaminal epidurals for treatment-resistant stenosis can bring multiple benefits, such as:

• Delaying or preventing the need for spine surgery
• Quick pain relief that may last for several weeks or months
• Only requiring about 30 minutes of your time
• Little, if any, discomfort during the treatment, thanks to a local anesthetic
• No need for oral medication or the side effects those may bring
• Improved quality of life, as your pain diminishes

Possible side effects of transforaminal epidurals, such as dizziness, headache, and weakness, tend to resolve on their own within a few hours. Severe side effects are rare.

After your transforaminal epidural

If transforaminal epidurals work well for you, you can have routine injections to keep your spinal stenosis symptoms at bay. Most people can safely have the injections 3-6 times per year.

If you don’t benefit from transforaminal epidurals within three injections, our team can recommend alternate treatments. 

To learn more about back injuries and incontinence or get started with individualized care contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment. We offer transforaminal epidurals for other conditions, too, such as chronic back pain, herniated discs, and sciatica.