Cervical nerve root block

Radiology Spine Injection DoctorsRadiology Spine Injection Doctors

Nerve root block

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

NerveNerve

DiscDisc

Nerve root block

Inject next Inject next to nerveto nerve

Radiology Spine Injection Doctors can Radiology Spine Injection Doctors can inject around the nerve at its root & inject around the nerve at its root & often ‘block’ the painoften ‘block’ the pain

Before the Injection Let your doctor know if you are taking Let your doctor know if you are taking

an anticoagulant or blood thinneran anticoagulant or blood thinner Bring someone who can drive you Bring someone who can drive you

home; some people can feel weak in home; some people can feel weak in the arm after the procedurethe arm after the procedure

Day of the injection Report to the Radiology Department in Report to the Radiology Department in

UW Hospital at G3/3 (Atrium elevators UW Hospital at G3/3 (Atrium elevators to the 3to the 3rdrd floor) floor)

If you have a MRI or CT of the spine If you have a MRI or CT of the spine from another hospital, bring it with youfrom another hospital, bring it with you

Nerve root block

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

Procedure Takes about 45 minutesTakes about 45 minutes You will lie on you back and a fine You will lie on you back and a fine

needle will be placed in your neck to needle will be placed in your neck to inject medication next to the nerve rootinject medication next to the nerve root

Medications are Lidocaine (to numb the Medications are Lidocaine (to numb the area) and Corticosteroid (to reduce area) and Corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation)inflammation)

Possible complications

complications are rarecomplications are rare

Radiology injection roomRadiology injection room

Possible complications

For 1-2 days after the procedure, For 1-2 days after the procedure, some patients have had:some patients have had:

temporary worsening of neck or arm paintemporary worsening of neck or arm pain redness and flushing around the faceredness and flushing around the face fluid gain which could cause breathing fluid gain which could cause breathing

difficulty (if you have heart problems)difficulty (if you have heart problems) higher blood sugars (if you are diabetic) higher blood sugars (if you are diabetic)

After the injection

Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hoursAvoid strenuous activity for 24 hours Take your usual medicines for neck Take your usual medicines for neck

painpain You will be given a phone number to You will be given a phone number to

call if any drainage, swelling, or call if any drainage, swelling, or increased pain at the injection siteincreased pain at the injection site