Physicians commonly administer nerve block injections in the neck to patients experiencing pain stemming from the cervical (upper) region of the spine. Patients experience pain in this area as a result of various conditions, including:

• Degenerative disc disease. When a cervical disc begins to degenerate, it can cause the surrounding vertebrae to move abnormally, or the inner material of the disc to leak out onto the surrounding nerves, both causing pain.

• Herniated disc. A disc becomes herniated when the material within the disc leaks out, whether as a result of a sudden tear or ongoing deterioration, thereby causing pain by irritating the surrounding nerves.

• Spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal, the protective space that is home to the spinal cord, narrows. For some patients, this can lead to compression of the spinal cord or its nerve roots, causing pain.

Issues in the cervical region of the spine may cause a patient to experience pain in their neck, shoulders, arms and hands. The pain can manifest itself on either side of the body.

Selective nerve root block injections for neck pain

If a patient is suffering from neck pain and other symptoms caused by a cervical spine issue, a physician may recommend a diagnostic selective nerve root block. This procedure can help confirm that a particular nerve root is the source of neck pain and other symptoms if relief is experienced after receiving the injection.

To perform a nerve block injection in the neck, a physician will use a needle to inject a local anesthetic into the nerve root space that he or she suspects is causing the pain. The physician may use an X-ray or other visualization equipment to ensure that he or she is inserting the needle into the proper location. The procedure generally only lasts a few minutes.

USA Spine Care’s Relief Confirmation Test

USA Spine Care uses selective nerve root blocks as part of the diagnostic process for some candidates who are being evaluated for our minimally invasive spine procedures. We also provide our Relief Confirmation Test, which is a diagnostic selective nerve root block that helps identify the level of the spine where the pain is coming from. Although the outcome of any surgical procedure can never be completely guaranteed, the Relief Confirmation Test can allow you to temporarily experience the relief that minimally invasive spine surgery can provide. To learn more about our procedures, our board-certified surgeons+ and our state-of-the-art facilities, contact us today.

We are pleased to offer a no-cost MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.