Cervical Epidural Injection: Your Experience

Cervical epidural injection is a treatment for certain types of neck pain. During this procedure, medicine is injected deep into your neck near your spine. The injection helps your health care provider find the source of your pain. It can also help ease your pain and soreness for a short time or a long time. But it does have some serious risks.

The injection can be done in your provider's office. Or it may be done in a hospital or surgery center. You will be asked to fill out some forms. This includes a consent form. You may also be examined.

Before you agree to this procedure, make sure to ask your provider:

• Why do I need this procedure?

• Are there any alternatives?

• How many times have you done this procedure?

• What are the risks?

• When will I see the results?

• Will the medicine in this injection interact with other medicines I am taking?

If you are not comfortable asking these questions, have a family member or friend ask them. The answers are vital to your health and safety.

Getting ready for your treatment

• Before treatment, tell your health care provider what medicines you take. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, like aspirin. It also includes vitamins, herbs, and other supplements. Ask if you should stop taking any of them before treatment.

• Tell your provider if you are pregnant or could be pregnant.

• Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicines.

• Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the procedure.

• If asked, bring tests with you to your treatment. This includes X-rays and imaging scans, such as MRIs.

During the procedure

You may be given medicine to help you relax. You will lie on an exam table on your stomach or side. Or you will sit in a chair. Stay as still as you can. During your treatment:

• The skin over the injection site is cleaned. A medicine (local anesthetic) is used to numb the skin.

• X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) may be used. This helps your health care provider determine the exact location of the injection. A contrast dye may be injected into the region. This is to help get a better image.

• The injection is given. It may contain a local anesthetic to numb the region, medicines to ease inflammation (steroids), or both.

A fluoroscope may be used to help the doctor see your spine during the procedure.

Risks and possible complications

• Infection

• Spinal headaches

• Bleeding

• Nerve damage

• Spinal cord damage

• Prolonged increase in pain

Other more serious complications have been reported. Talk to your health care provider before you decide to have the procedure. They can tell you about your benefits and risks.

After the procedure

• You can likely go home about 1 hour after the procedure. Have a family member or friend drive you.

• When the anesthetic wears off in several hours, your neck may feel more sore than usual. This is normal.

• Rest and put ice or a cold pack on the area for 20 minutes. Do this a few times during the first day. To make an ice pack, put ice in a plastic bag that seals at the top. Wrap the bag in a thin towel or cloth. Do not put ice or an ice pack directly on the skin.

• The steroid medicine used in the injection most often starts to work in a few days. But it could take up to a week to begin to feel some pain relief.

• Ask your health care provider about any limits to physical activity. And ask when it’s OK to go back to work.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your health care provider or get medical care right away if you have:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• Nausea.

• Severe headaches.

• Arm weakness or numbness that gets worse.

• Trouble swallowing.

• Pain that gets much worse.