Injection for radiating neck pain

Due to wear and tear (arthrosis), inflammation, surgery or an accident, the spinal column may undergo changes, which may lead to ‘nerve pain’. This causes pressure on, or irritation of, the nerves. Depending on which nerve is irritated, the pain will radiate towards a certain part of the body, such as the left arm or down to your fingers.

A cervical epidural injection may help you in this case. It is an injection given with local anaesthetic and an inflammation inhibitor (cortisone) in the epidural space, which is located around the spinal cord.

The goal is to address the nerve inflammation, which will reduce the pain and have you back to being active more quickly.

Preparation

Come to the hospital on the day of treatment.
You do not need to be fasting for the treatment. You may eat and drink.

By law, you may not drive any vehicles or operate machinery the morning after the treatment. Therefore, make sure that somebody can take you to and from the hospital. The physician or nurses can provide you with certificates, if required. If you wish, the nurses of the Pain Centre can order a taxi for you.

Always inform the physician if:

• you have diabetes or a heart condition
• you are (or could be) pregnant
• you are allergic to certain medications, contrast agents or iodine (disinfectant), latex, etcetera
• you take blood thinners

If you have reduced kidney function, have recently experienced thrombosis or a heart attack or have had a stent implanted, you must contact your attending physician first.

Medication	Stop	Comments
Asaflow®, Aspégic® Cardioaspirin®, Aspirin® Dispirl®, Sedergin®	Stop if >500 mg/day
Marcoumar®, Sintrom® Marevan®	Seven days before the procedure	Replace with injections (see Clexane, for example) Anticoagulation before the procedure
Ticlid®	ten days before the procedure
Plavix®, Clopidogrel Brilique®, Efient®	Seven days before the procedure
Xarelto®, Eliquis® Lixiana®, Pradaxa®	48 hours before the procedure
Fraxiparin®, Clexane® Fraxodi®	24 hours before the procedure	Restart 6 hours after the treatment 3 days afterwards, take together with regular blood thinners After a week, anticoagulation follow-up with your GP

See the leaflet below for more information about:

• hospital admission
• spinal cord composition
• the possible side effects and complications

Latest publication date: 01/02/2024
Supervising author: Dr Decaigny Veronique