A pain in your neck often is more than just a pain in the neck; it’s a life-altering condition that can cause a marked decline in the quality of your life. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer needlessly. You have experienced spine doctors close at hand who can perform one of a number of minimally invasive procedures to take the pain away. Cervical epidural steroid injections, one such treatment, are effective for alleviating neck pain, and they work quickly to get you back to your daily routine. With eight convenient locations in New York City and across northern New Jersey, the Spine & Rehab Group has an office near you to deliver neck pain relief. Call the nearest facility today for a consultation and learn how easy cervical epidural steroid injection recovery is.

A cervical epidural steroid injection is a minimally invasive procedure to relieve pain in your neck. Such pain often arises from one or more compressed nerve roots. The injection comprises a mixture of anesthetics and steroids. The steroid medication has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities and coats the inflamed nerves for long-term or short-term pain relief.

The inflammation of the spinal nerves causes pain and other incapacitating symptoms around your neck and other parts of your body. The painful condition affects your ability to perform daily tasks and requires the attention of an experienced spine doctor. A cervical epidural injection directed into the affected spine area relieves nerve root inflammation and the accompanying pain.

If you have debilitating neck pain that affects your life, the highly experienced team at the Spine & Rehab Group can correctly diagnosis the source and deliver pain-relieving treatment. Dr. Amr Hosny and a talented team of spine doctors at locations in Manhattan and across northern New Jersey use the latest technology to diagnose and treat a wide range of abnormal spine conditions.

A cervical epidural injection treats conditions that inflame or irritate the nerve roots in your cervical spine. The cervical spine is a flexible, complex structure made of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments and tendons that houses the spinal cord. Any condition that affects spinal nerve roots branching off from the spinal cord can cause pain and other life-altering symptoms, such as tingling and numbness. A cervical epidural steroid injection can treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Spinal stenosis
• A herniated disc in your neck
• Bone spurs
• A neck sprain
• Cervical radiculitis or radiculopathy
• A slipped or bulging disc in your neck
• Cervical degenerative disc disease
• Cervical facet syndrome
• Pain after a failed cervical surgery
• Neck Injuries and whiplash

The team of spinal experts at the New York City and New Jersey facilities examine you and carry out diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of your neck pain. The findings help your spine specialist develop an individualized treatment plan. Your treatment follows a safe course, where you begin with non-invasive treatments.

Before recommending a cervical epidural steroid injection, your doctor analyzes your symptoms and does tests to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Indications that this is the right treatment for your neck pain include:

• Exhausting conservative treatment options with no noticeable improvement
• Experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands, arms, shoulders and neck
• Having a sharp or dull pain in your neck
• Feeling continued pain in your neck, arm, low back or leg
• Having radiating pain down your shoulder into your arms and hands
• Suffering from degenerative disc disease

On the other hand, you may not be a good candidate for this procedure if you’re on medication, such as blood-thinners, or have certain medical conditions, such as:

• Active infections
• Bleeding problems
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Allergies to the epidural steroid medication

Your spine doctor explains everything about the procedure and answers all your questions before you begin. The procedure takes place at the physician’s office and lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. The treatment is pretty straightforward and follows steps that include:

1. You lie faced down on an x-ray table.
2. The doctor cleans the neck area and numbs it with a local anesthetic.
3. With the assistance of fluoroscopy, which provides live x-ray images, the doctor guides a needle to the affected area of your spinal cord and administers the injection.
4. Cervical epidural steroid injection recovery starts with monitoring you before discharge. The doctor advises you to rest, regularly applying an ice pack on the injection area. You are recommended to follow a pain management plan.

A cervical epidural steroid injection offers much-needed relief to debilitating neck, arm or shoulder pain. The specialists at Spine & Rehab Group discuss this treatment option, as well as alternatives like surgery, physical therapy, epidural platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and other treatments. Contact the spine doctors today and start your journey back toward a pain-free life.