When a Cervical Epidural Is the Best Choice for Your Neck or Back Pain

Do you have radiating pain in your neck or back? Find out how a simple injection can eliminate your symptoms and keep you pain-free for months at a time. Read on to learn more about cervical epidurals.

Pain caused by nerve issues radiates. That can lead to symptoms in the arms if the irritated nerves are in the neck or in the buttocks and legs if the irritated nerves are in the lower back.

A cervical epidural involves the injection of anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space of the spine. Cervical epidurals reduce the pain caused by the inflammation and irritation of nerve roots in the spine. They can also reduce numbness and tingling.

Below, we asked Dr. Aashish Jay Kumar, our expert at Spine & Pain Specialists of the Carolinas, to explain when a cervical epidural is recommended for neck and back pain.

What conditions are treated with a cervical epidural?

A cervical epidural can bring temporary pain relief to several conditions and injuries linked to spinal nerve inflammation, including the following:

Degenerative disc disease
Herniated discs
Pinched nerves
Spinal stenosis
Whiplash
Osteoarthritis

A cervical epidural should lessen some of the pain right away, but you might not experience the full effects until a week after the injections.

Everyone is different, but you can expect the medication to lessen the pain for at least six months. Some of the effects of a cervical epidural can last up to a year.

What to expect from a cervical epidural

During your cervical epidural, our experts will ask you to lie down on a table while the targeted area is cleaned with an antiseptic solution.

You can opt to be sedated or have a local anesthetic. Dr. Kumar then slowly guides the needle through your skin into the epidural space using real-time X-ray moving images.

Once Dr. Kumar inserts the needle into the epidural space, you may feel a cold sensation or pressure. Our experts will then slowly inject the medication into the epidural space. You can expect the entire process to take about 30 minutes.

If you’ve opted for a local anesthetic, you can drive yourself home after the procedure. But for people who opt for sedation, they will need a friend or family member to assist them.

Find out if you’re a good candidate for a cervical epidural

Good candidates have radiating pain in the neck and back that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments. Also, they don’t have any bleeding disorders or active infections.

If you’re experiencing pain, contact us to schedule an appointment and get expert advice on pain relief. Our medical team is experts in treating neck and back pain with cervical epidurals.