Lower back pain and sciatica are very common conditions. In fact, most individuals will experience low back pain at least once in their life. Sciatica is the pain radiating from the lumbar region into the leg, in the area supplied by the affected spinal nerve root. Spinal canal stenosis, foraminal narrowing or lumbar disc herniation, among others, may cause irritation or inflammation of the nerves as they leave the spine area. These conditions can be treated by injection of small amounts of a local anaesthetic and steroid under X-ray guidance into the immediate vicinity of the irritated spinal nerve root by way of the intervertebral foramen in which the target nerve lies.
References
- Theodoridis T., Kraemer J.: Injektionstherapie an der Wirbelsäule. Manual und Atlas. 3. Auflage. Thieme 2017.
- Bogduk N.: Practice Guidelines for Spinal Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures. 2. Edition. International Spine Intervention Society 2013.
