Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection

What is a cervical epidural steroid injection?

During this procedure, a corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory medicine) is injected into the epidural space to reduce inflammation and pain. Your physician may inject into the epidural space from behind; this is called an interlaminar injection. When your physician goes in from the side, it is called a transforaminal injection. If the needle is positioned next to an individual nerve root, it is called a selective nerve root block.

Conditions Treated with Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections

Cervical epidural steroid injections are commonly used to treat neck, shoulder, and arm pain caused by issues in the cervical spine (your neck area).

If you’ve been diagnosed with any of the following, this treatment might help:

• Herniated discs
• Pinched nerves (cervical radiculopathy)
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Arthritis in the neck

These injections work by reducing inflammation around irritated nerves, giving you real relief where it hurts most.

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Benefits of the Procedure

There are some real perks to getting a cervical epidural steroid injection:

• It targets pain right at the source
• It’s minimally invasive — no surgery required
• You can get back to your normal activities sooner
• It’s done as an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day
• It can also help your doctor better understand exactly where the pain is coming from

How to Prepare for the Procedure

To make sure everything goes smoothly, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking, especially blood thinners or NSAIDs — you might need to pause them
• Avoid eating or drinking a few hours before, if your doctor asks you to
• Wear loose clothing so they can easily access your neck area
• Bring someone with you to drive you home, especially if sedation is used
• Ask questions. If you’re unsure about anything or have allergies, speak up ahead of time

What happens during an injection?

An IV may be inserted to administer intravenous medication(s) to help you relax. A local anesthetic will be used to numb your skin. Fluoroscopy, a type of x-ray, will be used to insure the safe and proper position of the needle. A dye will also be injected to make sure the needle is in the correct spot. Once your physician is sure the needle is correctly placed, the medicine will be injected.

Your pain may become a little worse for a day or two. This is normal. It may be caused by needle irritation or by the steroid itself. Steroids usually take two or three days to start working, but can take as long as a week. You should be able to return to work the day after the injection, but always check with your doctor.

Post-Procedure Care and Recovery

Recovery is usually quick and easy, but a little care goes a long way:

• Take it easy for the rest of the day
• Use ice packs or over-the-counter pain relievers if the injection site feels sore
• Watch for unusual symptoms like redness, swelling, or fever — call your doctor if anything feels off
• Go to your follow-up visit to check progress and talk about next steps
• Ease back into activities as you start feeling better

Who is a Candidate for Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections?

If you’ve had ongoing neck, shoulder, or arm pain that hasn’t gotten better with rest, physical therapy, or medication, you might be a good fit for this injection. It’s especially helpful for people dealing with nerve-related pain due to herniated discs or spinal stenosis.

However, it may not be suitable if you have an infection, bleeding problems, or certain health conditions — your doctor will go over this with you to make sure it’s the right move.

How long can I expect pain relief?

The amount and duration of pain relief varies from person to person and is dependent on many factors including underlying pathology and activity level. Some can have relief that lasts for years, while others have short-term relief.

Usually a series of injections, often three, each spaced a week or two apart, are given. It is important to discuss with your physician your response to epidural steroids in order to plan future treatment options.

Neck pain, shoulder tension, arm discomfort — if any of that sounds familiar, it might be time to consider a cervical epidural steroid injection in NYC at New York Pain Care. Our expert pain specialists use advanced, minimally invasive techniques to deliver targeted relief. Book your consultation and start moving forward — pain-free.

New York Pain Care
20 Squadron Blvd, Suite 290
New City, NY 10956
(212) 242-8160