Why transforaminal and not SNRB?

[SteveE]

Pain Doc please reply. Thank you for your reply to my question about the difference between these injections. I'm now confused. After my spine doc said I have a nerve compression at L45, I said wouldn't it be a good idea to do a SNRB to confirm that this is the nerve root causing my pain? He agreed but I'm told by his assistant that he wants to do a transforaminal epidural injection at L45. According to what you said, this injection is done for therapeutic purposes when the nerve root causing the pain has been confirmed. We have not confirmed the pain generator. Am I missing something? Do you know why he wants to do the transforaminal instead of the SNRB? Any suggestions how I can further discuss this with the spine doc so I don't irritate him. Thanks for your help. Steve