I recently had a doctor perform a epidural steroid injection that was supposed to be a left side tranforminal ESI at L-5/S-1. He stuck the needle in my right side of my back/spine. Can a left transforminal ESI be performed via a needle on the right side.
The vertebral column is a single central column. Imagine it like a circular cylinder. Now there are nerves coming out of the cylinder, so we need to be careful there. The left side nerve travels left and right side nerve travels right. So if I go for left from left side, the chances are that I may actually damage a nerve. On TGE left side. Needle is a straight structure. So When I have to get to the side, I move from the right side. Since the nerve is travelling to the right, the needle will not touch it. I move to the left, and the needle reaches the correct place before getting to the nerve hope that explains to you how it is displease feel free to ask another query. I would be glad to help you. Looking forward to your return query with the details asked so that I can help you further. (If the answer has helped you, please indicate this)