Overview
The purpose of the corticosteroid is to minimize inflammation and swelling in the epidural space to minimizing inflammation will take pressure off nerves and soft tissues to provide pain relief over time. The anesthetic pain medication provides immediate pain relief.
Is it right for me?
If you are experiencing neck, head, or arm pain caused by conditions such as cervical degenerative disc disease, Post Laminectomy Syndrome, cervical spondylosis, cervical radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, then a cervical epidural steroid injection may be right for you.
What is the procedure like?
During this procedure, a thin needle will be inserted into the epidural space of the cervical spinal column under the guidance of an X-ray (fluoroscopy). After the needle is properly placed a corticosteroid in combination with an anesthetic pain medication will be injected through the needle. The purpose of the corticosteroid is to minimize inflammation and swelling in the epidural space to take pressure off nerves and soft tissues to provide pain relief over time.
What happens after the procedure?
The anesthetic pain medication provides immediate pain relief. For some individuals, an Epidural Steroid Injection alone is enough for pain relief. For others, Epidural Steroid Injections are used in combination with rehabilitation. Pain relief from an epidural steroid injection can range from one week to one year.