Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection

Cervical epidural steroid injection is a treatment for pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm that is caused by the inflammation of nerves serving those areas. The inflammation and pain comes when nerves are compressed, pinched and inflamed by ruptured spinal discs, spine abnormalities, or spinal canal narrowing. This pain will occasionally radiate or shoot to the arms or hands. The inflammation in these nerves can be relieved by placing steroid and numbing medicine (local anesthetic) right next to these nerves in the epidural space. The epidural space is immediately outside the protective membrane (dura) of the spinal cord and nerves. Although one injection may relieve your pain, most patients need the procedure repeated up to three times. Most patients receive added pain relief with every injection. In the procedure, patients are positioned face down on a procedure table. Intravenous medication is given to help relaxation and relieve anxiety. The site is cleaned and injected with numbing medicine (local anesthetic). A needle is then guided into the epidural space using x-ray imaging and the steroid and numbing medicine (local anesthetic) is injected. The procedure takes only a few minutes plus a short recovery period. Patients should be accompanied by someone to drive them home.

Why UAB

Treating pain and freeing the body of its effects requires comprehensive medical management. The physicians and staff of the UAB Medicine Pain Treatment Clinic offer the latest in pain management techniques, backed by the innovation, knowledge, and research of one of the country’s largest academic medical centers.

We recognize that relief from pain is just the first step in longer-term treatment. The multidisciplinary team combines clinical care with image-guided interventions, physical therapy, psychological assistance, medication, and ongoing consults with your primary care physicians.

At our clinic, the needs of each patient are addressed in an individualized manner, and the treatment program is carefully tailored to provide the best possible outcome. We are located at convenient UAB Hospital-Highlands, where access is easy and parking is free.

PHYSICIANS

Ryan M. Almeida, MD

Brandon S. Brooks, MD

Peter A. Nagi, MD

Timothy J. Ness, MD, PhD

Roland T. Short, MD

Thomas R. Vetter, MD, MPH

CLINICAL TRIALS

UAB is an active participant in research and clinical trials for Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection . We encourage you to speak to your physician about research and clinical trial options and browse the link below for more information on clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov.

View Clinical Trials