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Whether you are 30 or 100 years old, having neck pain can cause you to be severely limited in your daily activities. Narcotics or pain pills may only mask the problem and open surgery, while a valuable option in several cases, can sometimes be avoided. One alternative method for some types of neck pain is an epidural cervical injection (also known as cervical epidural steroid injection). This is a faster method with minimal discomfort that consists on injecting powerful anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space of the cervical spine; where the nerves of the arm, neck, and shoulders area are located. When these nerves are “pinched” (by a degenerated or herniated disc for example) the resulting pain can be severe. The pain can radiate to the arm or shoulder and sometimes, cause upper back pain. Medicines delivered into the area of damage can dramatically reduce inflammation and pain as well.
The St. Michael’s Pain and Spine Clinics offer epidural cervical injections as one of many minimally invasive techniques that can help patients experience pain relief and increase function while avoiding surgery whenever possible.
We will take the time with you to review all possible treatment options applicable to your condition. If you are a candidate for a cervical epidural steroid injection, they will be offered to you along with a detail explanation of the reasons for this treatment recommendation. In some instances, cervical epidural injections are extremely efficacious in achieving pain reduction without resorting to surgery or drugs.
At our pain clinics, we specialize in neck pain and lower back pain as well as migraines, upper back pain and sciatica. Less painful condition such as cranial neuropathies and complex regional pain syndrome are also treated at the clinics. Patients who may benefit or need epidural cervical injections or cervical epidural injections can make an appointment without a referral although we often work closely with neurosurgeons, family practice physicians, internal medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons to assist them manage their patients.
For more information on cervical epidural injections, please contact the St. Michael’s Pain and Spine Clinics at 832-448-0706 or visit the services page on our website.
Featured Article:
Pinched Nerves Can Be Treated Effectively with Epidural Cervical Injections
[Posted on January 6]
Why does this hurt so much? Will this ever go away? Am I going to need surgery for this? These are just a few of the questions which might enter the mind of someone suffering from severe neck or upper back pain, particularly if associated with pain radiating to the arms or legs (radicular pain or sciatica). This circumstance can be scary to many and its mechanism (for example a herniated disc or a ruptured degenerated disc) should be recognized by an appropriate neurological evaluation. Fortunately, there are minimally-invasive modalities to treat the pain effectively. One of several options for treatment is an epidural cervical injection.
People of all ages can be at risk for developing severe upper neck or back pain with or without associated sciatica or radicular arm or leg pain. In many cases as a result of a herniated disc which compresses a nearby nerve root. Although these “pinched nerves” are not the end of the world, they certainly can cause severe pain which can have a profoundly negative effect on someone’s life and emotions. Without a doubt, those who do have a pinched nerve should not ignore their pain, especially as it’s the case that a pinched nerve can be treated with several minimally invasive modalities such a micro-discectomy or with an epidural cervical injection or a lumbar epidural injection.
Such injections, given in the epidural space, are actually not primarily focused at reducing pain; instead, the injection’s primary goal is to reduce inflammation (frequently associated with herniated or degenerated discs that are ruptured and extruded), which in turn reduces pain. An epidural cervical injection may lead to sufficient reduction of the inflammation associated to the damaged disc to a point that the own individual healing mechanisms act in a manner that partially heal the process without the need of surgery. However, before jumping to any conclusions about what is likely to be needed for treatment, those who are suffering from a severe neck or upper back pain will need to seek a board-certified pain management specialist. A specialist from a reputable clinic will be able to work with the back or neck pain sufferer and explain to him or her the specific treatment options which are likely to be the most effective in stopping or reducing the back or neck pain.
If you are someone who has recently developed a severe neck or upper back pain, then you shouldn’t wait any longer and seek pain relief by contacting a pain management specialist who can help. If you have any questions about neck or back pain or degenerated discs or their treatment, be sure to make an appointment today, or else feel free to continue browsing through the rest of the St. Michael’s Pain and Spine Clinics website for more information regarding several treatment options available including epidural cervical injections or other neck and back pain treatment options.
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