Steroid injection after surgery is safe but you cannot inject using the typical posterior approach as the ligamentum flavum on that side (used by the injectionist for the tactile “feel” of the injection) has partially been removed. The injection can be performed on the opposite side but I don’t endorse that as the medication may not flow to the site of the herniation.
The typical approach for a prior level of surgery is the TFESI approach. That is trans-foraminal epidural steroid injection. As the same suggests, the medication is injected through the foramen and can reach the area if enough volume is injected.
The injection can give some relief for a period of time or on occasion, can confer relief for a long time. The fact that the pain was unchanged after surgery may indicate that the fragment was “missed”. The real question is why the disc material that was attempted to be removed is still present? The surgeon could have missed some fragments or you could have had a recurrent herniation. Ask your surgeon what he or she thinks.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
