Foraminal Blocks
Chronic pain can significantly impact your quality of life, making everyday activities difficult and uncomfortable.
Foraminal blocks are a treatment option for those experiencing lower back, leg, and foot pain caused by pinched or compressed nerve roots in the intervertebral foramen. This procedure helps relieve pain and inflammation in the lower body, offering long-lasting relief.
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If you’re experiencing chronic pain and want to explore whether a foraminal block is the right solution for you, our experienced doctors can guide you through the process and explain what to expect. Contact Ceda Orthopedic Group today to schedule your consultation and start your journey toward pain relief.
Procedure Overview
What Foraminal Blocks Are
Foraminal blocks target inflamed or compressed nerve roots that cause pain, numbness, or weakness in areas like the back, neck, arms, or legs. Conditions such as herniated discs, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis can compress these nerve roots, leading to significant discomfort and reduced mobility.
Treatment Description
A foraminal block is a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve pain caused by nerve compression within the foraminal spaces of the spine. It offers an effective option for managing chronic pain without the need for surgery.
What It Includes
The procedure involves injecting a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication directly into the affected foraminal space. This reduces inflammation, helps relieve pressure on the nerve, and blocks pain signals, providing lasting pain relief.
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Would I Be A Good Candidate For Foraminal Blocks?
Not everyone is an ideal candidate for foraminal blocks, and other treatments may be more suitable depending on your condition. For instance, physical therapy can help alleviate lower body pain by improving muscle strength and circulation. Mild pain may also be managed with pain medication, while chiropractic care can realign the spine to relieve nerve pressure.
If you have degenerative disc disease or arthritis, the damage to your spine may require more long-term solutions, such as surgery. Foraminal blocks provide temporary relief, typically lasting a few months, and may not be the best option for those with more severe, ongoing spinal issues.
disorders treated
What Are Foraminal Blocks Used To Treat?
Pinched or compressed nerves can cause radiating pain that travels from your lower back to your buttocks, legs, and even feet, significantly reducing mobility and quality of life. Foraminal blocks are effective in alleviating the following symptoms:
Tingling Sensations
Tingling Sensations A bulging spinal disc in your vertebral column can narrow the nerve canal, and cause tingling down your legs. This is an unexpected sensation that is distracting and uncomfortable.
Pain
Pain You may experience stinging and stabbing sensations because of compressed nerves that trigger pain. This can also increase inflammation and swelling in your legs and feet.
Numbness
Numbness Sometimes, pinched nerves are unable to send signals and you may experience a reduced ability to feel sensation in the affected areas.
Sciatica
Sciatica This is a common disorder that occurs when a pinched sciatic nerve sends radiating pain throughout your hip, leg, and feet. You might only feel it on one side of your body, rather than both.
Herniated Discs
Herniated Discs Herniated discs are a frequent source of nerve compression. This is when a spinal disc slips out of position, causing the vertebrae to close in and put pressure on the nerves.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick and helpful answers to common inquiries.
How Can Foraminal Blocks Benefit Me?
Foraminal blocks are a great way to manage pain and can prevent pinched nerves from sending signals to the brain. They are a temporary approach that can last several months and may be a solution for a chronic health disorder. It can help improve your mobility while you work on recovering from the underlying issue.
The foraminal block procedure is an injection that is performed with the help of x-ray guidance. This way, your doctor can find the nerve root that is causing irritation by viewing the x-ray imagery. The foraminal block injection will be placed in the correct area, targeting only the compressed nerves. There are three main types of injections; transforaminal, interlaminar, and caudal. Foraminal block injection applies the use of a steroid, which works as an anti-inflammatory that brings relief to the affected region. The pain is expected to get better over a few days and can help block the discomfort for several months. This is a useful approach compared to surgery, which is more expensive and invasive. Additionally, surgery can have a longer recovery time.
Which conditions you should also consider that may impact your eligibility for foraminal blocks?
Certain health conditions may affect your ability to receive foraminal blocks. It’s important to discuss these factors with your doctor before deciding on the procedure:
- High Blood Pressure: Those with high blood pressure may face an increased risk of complications, such as a vasovagal attack.
- Use of Blood Thinners: Blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding complications during the procedure.
- Diabetes: Diabetic patients may experience a temporary elevation in blood sugar levels after receiving a foraminal block.
- Edema: If you suffer from fluid retention, you may experience increased swelling for one to two weeks after the procedure.
These conditions don’t always rule out eligibility, but it’s crucial to have a thorough discussion with your doctor to ensure the procedure is safe for you.
How Long Will It Take Me To Recover From The Procedure?
It may take between three to four weeks for you to return to your normal activities. A foraminal block is a minimally invasive surgery, and won’t require 12 months to recover like open spine surgery. You may also notice pain relief within a few days to a week. However, after the procedure, you may feel tenderness in the area of the injection site for a few days.
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