Pain, tingling or a feeling of pressure in the neck, shoulder or arms can be caused by pressure on the nerves in the spine, either from a bulging disc or damage to the bony vertebrae.
An epidural injection may help.
An xray-guided, single injection of steroid combined with a local anesthetic can calm the pain and help increase mobility and function. Physical therapy can improve strength and flexibility to prevent the pain from coming back.
An injection can bring relief for months or longer, says pain management specialist Dean Anderson, APRN, CRNA.
“Steroids can help soft tissue like a bulging disc by reducing inflammation so it can repair itself,” Dean says. “If there’s damage to bone, either from injury or degeneration due to age, surgery may be needed to repair that.”
If there’s still pain after 2 or 3 rounds of injections, a surgical consult will help determine if surgery can repair the structure of the bones.
“If surgery is needed, once the structure is repaired, there may still be some nerve inflammation after surgery,” Dean says. “Injections can help reduce that inflammation so the nerves can heal themselves.”
Cervical spine epidural is an out-patient procedure; typically no sedation is needed.
That other pain in the neck
If you feel neck pain when you move, or have restricted range of motion, a different treatment can help. Cervical spine ablation heats the nerve endings to disable them from sending pain signals to the brain. Results can last 1-2 years. Physical therapy can help build strength in the neck muscles to better support the spine.
NH+C is the only provider of cervical spine epidural and ablation in our service area – the region between Rochester and Mankato, from the south metro to the Iowa border.
Schedule an appointment
Northfield: 507-646-1494
Faribault: 507-334-1601
No referral needed in most cases.