what's the difference between transforaminal injection, epidural and facet block
In brief: Location. The facet joints are the joints between the vertebra. An epidural injection goes into the epidural space (the space just outside the sac that covers the spinal cord. Depending on approach epidurals can be translaminar or transforaminal. Paracertebralinjections are in the space immediately to the side of the area where the spinal nerves come out of the spine. The location is the main difference. The facet joints are the joints between the vertebra.
What is a transforaminal injection? A transforaminal injection is an injection of long acting steroid into the opening at the side of the spine where a nerve roots exits. This opening is known as a foramen. There is a small sleeve of the epidural space that extends out over the nerve root for a short distance. This epidural root sleeve is just outside the spinal canal. Sometimes these injections are referred to as root sleeve blocks, root blocks or transforaminal epidural blocks. What is the purpose of a transforaminal injection? The long acting steroid that is injected reduces the inflammation and swelling of spinal nerve roots and other tissues surrounding the spinal nerve root.