15 Nov Thoracic Epidural Injections Can Decrease Spondylolisthesis Pain
Epidural injections are commonly thought of as pain medications for women in labor. But, they can also be used for several conditions that cause nerve pain. Thoracic epidural injections can be used to treat spondylolisthesis pain, and are extremely effective at reducing discomfort.
What is a Thoracic Epidural Injection?
A thoracic epidural injection is a shot that temporarily helps ease pain in your thoracic region. That’s upper to the middle part of your back. Medicine is injected into an area around your spinal cord. This area is known as the epidural space. Your spinal cord is a delicate bundle of nerves that runs from your brain to your lower back. The nerves of the spinal cord allow your brain to communicate with the rest of your body. The epidural space surrounds the spinal cord. The spine or backbone is the hard structure composed of a column of many small bones called vertebrae. The bones of the spinal column help protect your spinal cord from injury. Between these bones are intervertebral discs. These discs cushion the vertebrae. They also give your backbone flexibility. Sometimes, nerves leaving the spinal cord can become pinched or inflamed. That might happen, for example, if part of an intervertebral disc presses into the space of the spinal cord and nerves. You may then feel pain in your back.
What is Spondylolisthesis Pain?
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition that affects the lower vertebrae. This disease causes one of the lower vertebrae to slip forward onto the bone directly beneath it. It’s a painful condition but treatable in most cases. Both therapeutic and surgical methods may be used. Proper exercise techniques can help you avoid this condition. The symptoms of spondylolisthesis vary. People with mild cases may not have any symptoms. However, those with severe cases may be unable to perform daily activities. Some of the most common symptoms are persistent lower back pain, stiffness in your back and legs, lower back tenderness, and thigh or buttock pain. Causes of spondylolisthesis vary based on age, heredity, and lifestyle. Children may suffer from this condition as a result of a congenital disability or injury. However, people of all ages are susceptible if the condition runs in the family. Rapid growth during adolescence may also be a contributing factor. Playing sports may also cause your strain to overstretch and put stress on your lower back. Spondylolysis is often a precursor to spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis occurs when there is a fracture in a vertebra, but it hasn’t yet fallen onto a lower bone in your spine. The treatment for spondylolisthesis depends on your severity of pain and vertebra slippage. Nonsurgical treatments can help ease pain and encourage the bone to go back into place. It’s important to avoid contact sports during the healing process.
How Can Thoracic Epidural Injections Treat Spondylolisthesis Pain?
Thoracic epidural injections use a combination of steroids and numbing medications to treat nerve pain in the spine. Thoracic epidural injections have been safely and widely used to treat spondylolisthesis pain. It is recommended that spondylolisthesis be treated with nonsurgical procedures to allow the vertebra to heal properly. Thoracic epidural injections are the best noninvasive method to treat spondylolisthesis nerve pain at the source.