Treatment guide
Epidural Injections for Back and Neck Pain
An image-guided injection around an irritated spinal nerve to reduce inflammation and help rehabilitation for selected cases of sciatica or arm pain.
Who may be considered
- Sciatica or pain travelling down a leg
- Neck pain travelling into an arm
- Disc-related nerve irritation that has not settled with initial care
Assessment comes first
Symptoms, examination findings and relevant imaging are reviewed together. An injection is only considered when the likely pain source and expected benefit are reasonably clear.
What happens
Using X-ray guidance, the doctor guides a needle to the epidural space and injects medication around the affected nerve. The procedure is usually completed with local anaesthetic.
What it cannot promise
An epidural injection is not a cure for every disc problem and does not guarantee that surgery will be avoided. Its role is often to reduce pain enough for movement and rehabilitation.
Possible risks
- • Temporary increase in pain
- • Headache
- • Bleeding or infection
- • Nerve injury or reaction to medication, which is uncommon
Recovery
You are observed briefly and usually return home the same day. Driving and activity advice depends on the procedure and medicines used.
Alternatives
- • Medicines
- • Physiotherapy
- • Activity modification
- • Surgical assessment when weakness, compression or persistent symptoms require it
When to seek urgent help
Sudden weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, chest pain, severe pain after an injury, fever with worsening pain, or a rapidly changing condition needs urgent medical assessment. Trident Pain Clinics is not an emergency service.