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Cervical injection next week
I am a bit scared about having my cervical injection next week. The pain dr. will put me out as in twilight like they do for colonoscopy. Is this common and how much risk is associated?? I do have some numbness in the palm of my hand.
This is my MRI results:
History: Neck and right arm pain
Procedure: sagittal and axial imaging of the cervical spine was performed using standard MRI pulse sequences.
Findings: Lordosis is reversed in the upper to mid cervical region. The vertebrae are unremarkable in signal intensity, without edema or acute fracture. There is no prevertabal soft tissue swelling,
The visualized portion of the cord appears unremarkable,
C2-3: The disc space is without significant finding.
c3-4: The disc space is narrowed with osteophytes and broad-based disc complex present that results in moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing.
c4-5: The disc space is narrowed with osteophytes and broad-based disc complex present that results in moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing, right greater than left.
c5-6: The disc space is narrowed with osteophytes and disc complex present that results in moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing. There is slight retrolisthesis of c5 on c6 as well.
C6-7: The disc space is narrowed with osteophytes and disc complex present that results in moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing, right greater than left.
c7-T1: Disc space narrowing with osteophytes and broad-based disc bulge is present. There is an element of bilateral foraminal narrowing present as well at this level .
Remaining disc spaces are without significant findings.
Impression: Reversal to lordosis with multilevel disc and osteophyte complex present results in considerable multilevel lateral foraminal narrowing as described above.
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Hi shells14,
how are you?
I used to be scared too.
Depending on whether the radiologist gives you a interlaminar or transforaminal steroid injection decides whether you lie on your stomach or your back.
I had transforaminal C6 nerve root cortisone injection where you lie on your back and keep your head at 45 degrees either right or left depending on the location of the nerve. I had to stay still.
They told me that the syringe contained local anaesthetic and cortisone. I felt a little prick and waited for the completion of the procedure. I was awake throughout.
Anyway this was my experience. I never received complete anaesthesia.
Alfred
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3 ReactionsI've had dozens of cervical and lumbar epidural steroid injections. I've never had anesthesia for any of them. However, the lumbar injections in particular can be painful and I have been offered anesthesia for them in the past. The procedure itself takes very little time - perhaps 15 minutes from start to finish. For me, only the actual injection (i.e., pushing the medicine through the needle already positioned in your body) is painful. That part takes less than 60 seconds, but the slower the doctor goes the less painful it is.
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3 ReactionsThank you Alfred for your information. I appreciate it.
Yes I will be on my stomach and I believe that must mean a interlaminar injection.
I will let you know how it goes.
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4 ReactionsShells, like others here, I’ve had 3 cervical injections prior to my surgery. None were given under anesthesia and to be honest I never needed to be. It’s over and done before you realize ! Hang in there, you’ll do fine!….David
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2 ReactionsI agree with you...I did not have anesthesia and the procedure wasn't dreadful.
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2 ReactionsIt's a piece of cake! No worries.
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2 ReactionsI’ve had several injections and ablation without anesthesia, the pain is tolerable and it’s over fast. I hope you get pain relief.
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2 ReactionsGood luck, over the last 5 years I’ve had at least 10 injections the last being a series of shots at L 10-11, no help, prior to back injections I had 6-8 in cervical neck area, No help, had a cervical fusion done June 2020, still slot of pain.
I’ve heard of shots working just not on me.
thank you
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1 ReactionIve had fout cervical injections in the past 5 years. It took two tovtreat it each time, so if the first doesnt get it ask for a 2nd.
Make sure that you crack your neck a bit opening up the space....the shot will hurt so much less.
Good luck