Cervical nerve root block

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Cervical nerve root block

• Radiology Spine Injection Doctors

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Nerve root block

• Your doctor thinks a bulging disc is touching
  your nerve and is a cause of your pain.

Nerve
Disc
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Nerve root block

• Radiology Spine Injection Doctors can inject
  around the nerve at its root often block the
  pain

Inject next to nerve
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Before the Injection

• Let your doctor know if you are taking an
  anticoagulant or blood thinner
• Bring someone who can drive you home some people
  can feel weak in the arm after the procedure

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Day of the injection

• Report to the Radiology Department in UW Hospital
  at G3/3 (Atrium elevators to the 3rd floor)
• If you have a MRI or CT of the spine from another
  hospital, bring it with you

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Nerve root block

• The procedure will be described to you by a
  radiologist, and you can ask questions

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Procedure

• Takes about 45 minutes
• You will lie on you back and a fine needle will
  be placed in your neck to inject medication next
  to the nerve root
• Medications are Lidocaine (to numb the area) and
  Corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation)

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Possible complications

• complications are rare

Radiology injection room
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Possible complications

• For 1-2 days after the procedure, some patients
  have had
• temporary worsening of neck or arm pain
• redness and flushing around the face
• fluid gain which could cause breathing difficulty
  (if you have heart problems)
• higher blood sugars (if you are diabetic)

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After the injection

• Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours
• Take your usual medicines for neck pain
• You will be given a phone number to call if any
  drainage, swelling, or increased pain at the
  injection site