Steroid injections into the cervical spine can help with radiating neck pain. Neck pain affects people all over the world. Although it is not as common as back pain, neck pain can really take a toll on a person’s quality of life and ability to work.  This comes in the form of:

• Sleep problems
• Radiating/Spreading pain
• Mental health issues and more

Like back pain, neck pain can be hard to treat effectively without identifying the root cause, known as the pain generator. If natural treatments like chiropractic aren’t working, injections could be the next phase.

Injections can help with:

• Identifying the source/root cause of the pain as a diagnostic
• Treats the pain as a therapeutic

The most commonly used are cervical epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks (MBBs), and facet joint injections. Learn about what they are, what they treat, and the scientific research behind their risks and benefits.

Cervical Epidural Steroid

The phrase cervical epidural steroid injection:

• Injection means that medicine is delivered through a needle.
• Cervical means the cervical spine, which is the neck.
• Epidural means the dura or outer layer of the soft tissue that encases the spinal cord, nerve roots, and cerebrospinal fluid. Epidural means the medicine goes into the space around the dura.

Spine specialists use image guidance with a contrast dye called fluoroscopy, ensuring the medicine gets delivered to the proper area.

2 Types

The needle enters the space through a transforaminal approach or interlaminar approach. Words like epidural just refer to where the needle goes. These injections, also called nerve root blocks, are performed by entering the epidural space through the opening where the nerve roots branch out. This space is known as the intervertebral foramen.

When is called a selective nerve root block, this is for cases where multiple nerve roots are being compressed, and the injection is being used for a diagnostic purpose to identify which nerve is the pain generator. The needle in an interlaminar epidural injection goes through the opening that exists between two adjacent vertebrae.

Candidates

Cervical epidural steroid injections may be appropriate for someone who has severe neck pain with:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Altered sensation in the arm, shoulder, or between the shoulder blades

Cervical epidural steroid injections are reserved as a second-line treatment for individuals with neck pain that does not stop for more than 4 weeks despite conservative treatment like physical therapy, chiropractic, or medical pain management using NSAIDs or acetaminophen. The source of the pain is usually what determines if injections are appropriate.

With a patient:

• Past medical and surgical history
• Pain history
• Physical exam findings
• Imaging Results like CT computed tomography scan, MRI magnetic resonance imaging, or a nerve test like an EMG electromyography test can help find the source of the pain.

If a spine specialist thinks the nerve compression was brought on by a disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, or the shifting of vertebral levels, scarring, or arthritic conditions is causing the pain, then an injection may be appropriate. If the pain comes from an infection or cancer, this treatment is unlikely to be recommended.

Potential Benefits

The effects of injections are different for everyone because of the variables:

• The Duration of symptoms
• The Cause of the symptoms
• Any Additional treatment

More than 50% will have at least 50% improvement in their pain for around 4 weeks. Then some individuals experience relief for up to 6 months. There are no significant differences in outcomes between the transforaminal and interlaminar approaches. Overall, alleviation from the pain is enhanced/improved when the injections are combined with a full-on treatment plan that includes physical therapy/chiropractic and pain medications.

Possible Risks

Common complications associated with injections are usually minor and temporary. These are:

• Headache/s
• Facial flushes
• Light Headedness
• Rash
• Pain increase
• Extended Numbness

Major complications are rare, but they can happen. These include infection, paralysis, stroke, and death. However, this happens in less than 1% of individuals undergoing this treatment. These complications are thought to happen from direct spinal cord penetration of the needle, bleeding into the spinal canal, or the medicine inadvertently getting injected into the blood vessels. Surgical groups and facilities have strict guidelines to limit these complications. This treatment is commonly used and, when done correctly, can be a powerful tool in treating persistent, severe neck pain. Everyone is different, so if you are considering a cervical epidural spinal injection, find a qualified spine specialist or consult a chiropractor to find out if injections are necessary.

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Neck Pain Treatment

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