Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection

Cervical epidural steroid injection relieves pain in the neck, shoulders, and arms caused by pinched nerves in the cervical spine, conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease.  Radiculopathy can compress nerves, causing inflammation and pain.  The medication injected helps decrease the swelling/inflammation of nerves and ultimately the pain.

This steroid injection procedure is performed with the patient lying down.  Intravenous sedation may be administered, and a region of skin and tissue of the neck is numbed with a local anesthetic delivered through a small needle.  Contrast dye is injected into the space to make sure the needle is properly positioned neat the irritated nerve or nerves.

A combination of an anesthetic and cortisone steroid solution is injected into the epidural space.  The steroid is an anti-inflammatory medication that is absorbed by the inflamed nerves to decrease swelling and relieve pressure.

The needle is removed and a small bandage is applied.  The patient goes to recovery room and discharged with post treatment instructions.  Some patients may need only one injection, but it may take two or three injection (administered two weeks apart) to provide significant pain relief.