Cervical Epidural Injections
Cervical epidural injections:
A cervical epidural injection is a procedure in which we inject anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space around the spinal nerves in your neck. The injections help in pain relief by reducing nerve irritation and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory medicine coats the irritated nerve(s) thereby reducing swelling and pressure on the nerves. This helps the nerve(s) to heal over time. Cervical epidural injections most often lead to temporary pain relief, but some people do not experience pain relief from the injection.
Is getting a cervical epidural injection common for neck pain?
Cervical epidural injections are a commonly performed procedure in our center and all over the world. Who performs a cervical epidural injection?
Who cannot get this procedure done?
This procedure is contraindicated in pregnant women and those with spinal cord injury and bleeding disorders.
How to prepare for a cervical epidural injection?
Before the procedure, you have to follow these instructions:
- Few basic blood tests have to be done
- X-ray and MRI of your cervical spine to ensure the correct site.
- You may be asked to fast for 4-6 hours before the planned procedure time
- Medications such as diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensives, and blood thinners need to be adjusted accordingly
How long do I need to stay in the center or hospital?
The procedure takes about 30 minutes. You will need to come 2 hours prior and post procedure you need to stay for observation for 2 hours or so.
What happens during a cervical epidural injection procedure?
The general steps of a cervical epidural injection procedure include:
- You’ll change into a medical gown and lie comfortably on your belly.
- the area of your neck where they’ll insert the epidural needle is thoroughly cleansed to minimize the risk of infection.
- local anesthesia with a small needle is given in the area where they’ll insert the epidural needle. So you will feel only pressure and not much pain during the procedure.
- The whole procedure is done under imaging guidance called fluoroscopy.
- When the epidural needle is in the epidural space, after confirmation the anti-inflammatory medication is injected.
- After the injection, you will be required to be under observation for 2 hours.
Is a cervical epidural injection painful?
You’ll likely experience a small pinching sensation when your doctor injects the local anesthetic to numb the area before inserting the epidural needle.During the procedure, you may feel pressure, tingling, a burning sensation, and minimal pain.
What should I expect after my cervical epidural injection?
After your injection, you may feel some discomfort where the needle was inserted. This is normal and should only last a couple of hours. Epidural injections start working within three to seven days, and the pain relief can last for a few months or longer.
What are the benefits of cervical epidural injections?
- You may experience pain relief in a few days post-injection.
- You may have enough pain relief to effectively perform rehabilitation exercises to help treat the cause of your neck pain and prevent the worsening of disc bulge or spondylosis.
- Cervical epidural injections may reduce the need for surgery, for pain management.
What are the risks/complications of cervical epidural injections?
Cervical epidural injections are usually safe, but there are risks of certain side effects and complications. All these complications are very rarely encountered.
- can make you feel lightheaded temporarily
- You may experience a headache post-procedure caused by spinal fluid leakage.
- Infection post-procedure is a risk associated with any type of procedure.
- Bleeding if a blood vessel is accidentally damaged during the injection, which could cause a blood clot to form.
- Damage to the nerves at the injection site.
Can having a cervical epidural injection cause long-term side effects?
While it’s very rare, receiving a cervical epidural injection can lead to some long-term complications such as permanent neurologic deficit due to spinal cord or nerve root damage, chronic pain, and permanent paralysis from a hematoma that occurs if there’s an accumulation of blood.
What should you expect after cervical epidural injection therapy?
With cervical epidural injection, we aim to provide pain relief for patients so that they can effectively perform the rehabilitation exercises. Physical therapy in the form of spine stretching and strengthening exercises makes your muscles supporting the spine stronger. About 60-80% of the patients who receive injections experience pain relief over the next few days.
How long do the cervical epidural injections last?
Cervical epidural injections provide effective pain relief to enable you to actively participate in spine rehab. With a regular exercise regime, a patient may benefit from these injections in the long term. Some people don’t experience much pain relief from cervical epidural injections if they are candidates for surgery or they do not effectively exercise and maintain spine health.
Can cervical epidural injections be repeated?
Yes, these injections can be repeated if a patient has only partial pain relief. But in general, we limit it to 2-3 injections per year.
When should you review with the doctor?
You should review with the doctor 24-48 hours post-procedure. If you experience symptoms such as headache, giddiness, blurring of vision, and fever, consult your doctor right away.