The Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Procedure

A Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection is a procedure commonly used to address severe neck pain that radiates to the arms and shoulders and has failed to improve with more conservative treatments including rest, medications, physical therapy, or chiropractic treatments.

Using x-ray guidance, a needle is guided into space called the epidural space. The needle will deliver medication usually containing cortisone which will decrease inflammation of the discs and nerves thus alleviating symptoms. A series of anywhere from one to three injections is usually necessary determine whether there is significant improvement that is long lasting which is the goal.  When severe neck pain has been present and has failed to improve with more conservative treatments like physical therapy or chiropractic treatments this is considered a more conservative treatment than undergoing surgery.