Your middle or upper back pain may be coming from the thoracic spine. This pain may make it difficult to bend, twist, or even breathe deeply. At 5th Avenue Medical Wellness, we provide the safe, non-surgical procedure known as thoracic epidural steroid injection (ESI). Its goals are to lessen inflammation, ease nerve pain, and enable more comfortable mobility.
What Is a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection?
Thoracic epidural steroid injections are quick and safe procedures. It delivers medication directly to the spine’s upper or mid-back epidural region. The nerves are surrounded by this area, and pain results from irritated or inflamed nerves.
The injection helps halt pain signals from reaching your brain, ease nerve pressure, and reduce swelling. This isn’t surgery. Most patients return home the same day after having it done in our facility.
Conditions Treated with Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection
This treatment can help with many types of back pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerves. It’s often used when other treatments like rest or medicine don’t work.
Conditions we treat with this injection include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis (narrow spinal canal)
- Thoracic nerve inflammation
- Pinched nerves in the upper or mid-back
- Pain that wraps around the ribs or chest
If you have pain that starts in your back and travels to the front of your body, this may be the right treatment for you.
How Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injections Work for Mid-Back Pain
The injection delivers a strong anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) near the spinal nerves. This helps reduce the swelling that’s pressing on the nerves. A small amount of numbing medicine is also included. This helps block pain signals and gives short-term relief while the steroid starts working.
When the swelling goes down, the nerves can heal. This leads to less pain, better movement, and a return to normal daily life.
What’s Inside a Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection?
This injection usually contains two things:
- A steroid – to reduce inflammation and swelling around the nerves
- A local anesthetic – A local anesthesia is used to temporarily numb the area and block pain signals.
Together, they help calm the irritated nerves and give your back time to heal.
Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection Procedure: What to Expect
The procedure is quick and easy. Here’s what happens:
- You’ll lie face down on a treatment table
- We clean the skin on your back and numb the area
- Using live X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), we place a thin needle in the right spot
- The medicine is slowly injected into the epidural space
- You rest for a short time, then go home the same day
Most patients say it feels like pressure or a pinch, but not sharp pain. The whole process usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Why Choose 5th Avenue Medical Wellness for Thoracic Spine Care
At 5th Avenue Medical Wellness, we treat people — not just symptoms.
You’ll get:
- A caring team that listens to your concerns
- A doctor who explains everything clearly
- The latest technology to guide each procedure
- A safe, clean, and comfortable setting in NYC
We don’t rush. We take time to understand your pain and choose the right treatment plan for you. If you’re looking for Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection in NYC, you’re in the right place.
Book Your Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection in Queens
Don’t let upper or mid-back pain stop you from living fully. If simple things like bending, twisting, or even taking a deep breath are uncomfortable, it’s time to get real relief.
Book your appointment today for Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection Queens. Let’s help you feel better — one step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Not really. Most people feel only a small pinch or pressure. We numb the area before the injection. At 5th Avenue Medical Wellness, we use imaging to guide the needle safely and gently. Our patients often say the procedure is quicker and easier than expected.
Some people feel better within a few hours. Others might need several days. The steroid needs time to reduce the swelling. Our team will follow up with you and help track your progress so we know how your body responds.
The duration of pain alleviation varies from a few weeks to several months. Everyone is different. If the injection works well, we may recommend another one later or suggest a longer-lasting option like radiofrequency ablation. We’ll help create a plan that fits your needs.
Yes, in many cases. Instead of covering the pain like pills do, the injection treats the source directly — the inflamed nerves. It’s also safer for people who can’t take strong medications. We focus on targeted care that avoids unnecessary drugs or side effects.
Yes, in most cases. You may need to take it easy for the rest of the day, but most people return to their normal routine by the next day. We recommend avoiding heavy lifting or intense exercise right after the procedure. Our team will give you simple aftercare instructions to help you heal comfortably.