Treatments We Provide

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection

What is a Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection?

A cervical steroid injection is an injection using a steroid to control inflammation and a long-lasting anesthetic for pain relief. These injections are typically delivered into the cervical spine, the vertebrae that make up the neck portion of your spine. The injection is placed in the space between the spinal cord and the vertebrae of the cervical spine. A minimally invasive procedure, a cervical epidural steroid injection can help relieve pain for some patients with severe or chronic neck and upper extremity pain. It may also help avoid spinal surgery.

Why is a Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection performed?

Being simple and relatively painless, cervical steroid injections can help with some very painful conditions including:

Some patients experience neck pain or upper body pain originating in the cervical spine that radiates across the tops of their shoulders and moves into their arms and hands. This radiating pain is referred to as cervical radiculitis or radiculopathy, which is similar to sciatic pain in the lower extremities and may feel like:

Shooting pain
Pins and needles in the shoulders, arms, and hands
Numbness or weakness in the arms and hands

This kind of pain can occur when a nerve in your neck is compressed or pinched due to any of the conditions listed above. Cervical epidural steroid injections are usually performed after more conservative treatments have failed and can help avoid cervical spinal surgery when your pain is intractable.

How is a Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection performed?

On the day of the procedure, you may receive a mild IV sedative to help you relax, especially if you are anxious about it. Talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you have. Your healthcare team is there to help you feel more at ease. The area to be injected will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Using fluoroscopic guidance to position a thin needle in the epidural space, the doctor will first inject a dye to ensure that the medication is in the right place, helping provide more targeted pain relief and minimizing potential risks. Once the needle is in place, a long-lasting steroid and a local anesthetic, usually lidocaine or bupivacaine are injected. Steroids can help reduce inflammation and irritation, and the anesthetic disrupts pain messages to the brain. As with all procedures, cervical epidural steroid injections do have risks, which are rare. Some potential complications can include bleeding, infection, headaches, and nerve damage. There may also be risks associated with the medications, including allergic reactions, high blood sugar, decreased immune response, and the potential for weight gain. Proper positioning of the needle using fluoroscopic guidance helps to minimize these risks.

What should I expect after a Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection?

Immediate pain relief is typically experienced, which will diminish as the local anesthetic wears off, which is normal. Aftercare instructions might include:

Ice packs on the injection site
Over-the-counter pain medications
Rest

You should be able to resume your normal activities after the first day, but talk to your doctor if pain persists past a week.

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If you’re struggling with neck, back, or hip pain or any other spine related issues, schedule an appointment with us today to get back to living your life the way you’d like to.