Elite Cervical Care

Targeted Neck Injections Near You in New Jersey

Neck pain that radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand is more than uncomfortable. It can make it hard to work, sleep, or get through a normal day. When rest, medication, and physical therapy (PT) haven’t given you enough relief, a cervical epidural steroid injection may be the next step. At Kurdali Spine & Pain, Dr. Basil Kurdali uses this targeted, minimally invasive treatment at locations near you in New Jersey to calm the nerve inflammation at the root of your pain, so you can start recovering and get back to what matters.

Key Takeaways

A cervical epidural steroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly to the space around the irritated nerves in your neck.
It’s most effective for neck pain that travels into the arm, hand, or fingers due to a compressed or inflamed nerve.
The procedure uses imaging guidance, takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and requires no general anesthesia.
Many patients experience significant relief within one to two weeks.

What Do Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections Treat?

Cervical epidural steroid injections are for pain that starts in the neck but doesn’t stay there. If your pain travels down your shoulder, arm, or into your fingers, it’s likely from an irritated or compressed nerve root in your cervical spine, which is the portion of your spine that runs through your neck. This traveling pain, sometimes described as burning, electric, or sharp, signals that the source of the problem is the nerve that passes through the muscles in your neck.

Neck Pain with Arm Symptoms

Cervical epidural steroid injections are ideal for pain that:

These symptoms are also known as radicular pain or radiculopathy, which means the pain is traveling along the path of a nerve that’s being irritated at its root.

Common Diagnoses

Several underlying conditions can compress or inflame a nerve root in the cervical spine. The most common include:

Cervical disc herniation: The soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes outward through its outer shell and presses against a nearby nerve. It’s sometimes called a slipped or bulging disc.
Cervical spinal stenosis: The spinal canal or nerve passageways narrow over time, often from arthritis or bone spurs. This narrowing can begin to crowd the nerves.
Degenerative disc disease: As discs in the neck age and lose height, the spaces around the nerves shrink. Inflammation often follows, leading to chronic nerve irritation.

Dr. Kurdali will review your imaging and your symptoms to confirm which nerve is involved and whether an epidural injection is the right treatment.

How Do Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections Work?

The word epidural refers to the epidural space, which is a narrow channel that runs just outside the protective covering of the spinal cord. This space exists at every level of the spine, including the neck. It sits right next to the nerve roots, which makes it an ideal place to deliver medication. These injections work by:

Reducing Inflammation Around Irritated Nerves

A cervical epidural steroid injection delivers two things directly to the source of the problem:

Corticosteroid is the main therapeutic agent. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory medication, like cortisone but more targeted. When a nerve is compressed or irritated, the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed, which worsens the pressure on the nerve and amplifies pain signals. The steroid interrupts that inflammatory cycle. As swelling decreases, the nerve has more room, irritation settles, and pain diminishes.

The local anesthetic provides immediate, temporary relief, like a reset for the nerve. It can help Dr. Kurdali confirm the injection reached the right location, since many patients notice rapid, short-lived numbness in the arm when the correct nerve is targeted.

Imaging Guidance and Precision

Cervical epidural steroid injections aren’t done blindly. Dr. Kurdali uses fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray system, or computed tomography (CT) guidance to watch the needle’s position throughout the procedure. A small amount of contrast dye is injected first to confirm that the medication will go around the correct nerve root, before the steroid is delivered.

What Should I Expect Before, During, and After a Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection?

Kurdali Spine & Pain is led by Dr. Basil Kurdali, a board-certified pain management specialist. He wants each patient to feel confident about their treatment, so he explains what to expect during the consultation. Knowing what to anticipate at each stage takes much of the uncertainty out of your experience:

Before the Procedure

During your pre-procedure appointment, he’ll review your imaging, medical history, and current medications. Let Dr. Kurdali know if you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or any supplements. You may need to pause taking some of these beforehand. Additionally, you should also mention any known allergies, particularly to contrast dye or steroids.

Eat a light meal on the day of your appointment. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. We also recommend arranging a ride home because sometimes we give you sedation to help you relax.

During the Procedure

You will lie face down or slightly on your side on a padded table. The skin on the back of your neck is cleaned with an antiseptic solution and numbed with a local anesthetic injection, which is the sharpest pain you should feel.

Once the area is numbed, Dr. Kurdali advances a thin needle toward the epidural space under continuous fluoroscopic guidance. You may feel mild pressure or a dull ache as the needle is positioned. Contrast dye is injected to confirm proper placement, and then the steroid is delivered. The entire process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.

After the Procedure

You’ll rest in a recovery area for 20 to 30 minutes, so our staff can monitor you before you go home. Your neck may feel sore at the injection site for a day or two, but this is normal. If Dr. Kurdali used a local anesthetic, you may experience temporary numbness or heaviness in the arm, which resolves within a few hours.

After your procedure, Dr. Kurdali will provide you with specific after-care instructions, which can include:

Activity: Take it easy for the remainder of the day. Most patients return to their usual routine the following day.
Heat and ice: Apply ice to the injection site for the first 24 hours to reduce soreness. Avoid heat and soaking in water for 24 hours.
Medications: Continue any prescribed medications as directed. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen for a day or two.
Watch for warning signs: Contact our office if you develop worsening pain, fever, severe headaches, or any new neurological symptoms, such as sudden weakness or loss of bladder control.

Results and Timeline

You won’t experience instant relief. The local anesthetic may give you a brief window of reduced pain in the first few hours after the injection, but this is temporary. The steroid takes time to work.

Most patients notice improvement within three to seven days, with peak benefits arriving around the one- to two-week mark. However, some patients experience relief sooner, while others may take a little longer. If you haven’t noticed any change after two to three weeks, contact Dr. Kurdali. He’ll schedule a follow-up examination to determine the next step.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections?

Cervical epidural steroid injections are generally safe. Serious complications are rare, especially when done under imaging guidance. That said, every medical procedure carries some level of risk, and you deserve a clear picture of these risks before you decide.

Common Side Effects

These are expected and typically resolve on their own within a few days:

Less Common Risks

Though uncommon, the following risks are worth discussing with Dr. Kurdali:

Dural puncture (wet tap): If the needle accidentally punctures the membrane surrounding the spinal cord, spinal fluid can leak, causing a positional headache. This usually resolves with rest and fluids, though a minor follow-up procedure called a blood patch may be needed in some cases.
Infection: Any injection carries a small risk of introducing bacteria. Dr. Kurdali follows a strict sterile technique to minimize this risk.
Nerve irritation: You may experience temporary arm pain or tingling immediately after the injection, but this is usually brief.
Allergic reaction: Rare reactions to contrast dye or steroids are possible. Inform Dr. Kurdali of any known allergies beforehand.

Dr. Kurdali will discuss your individual risk profile before the procedure. If you have questions or concerns, raise them before your appointment day. No question is too small.

What Are Alternatives to Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections?

An epidural injection isn’t always the first line of treatment, and it isn’t right for everyone. We always explore conservative options first and consider injections when those treatments haven’t given you enough relief. Alternatives include:

Physical Therapy

For many patients, structured physical therapy combined with appropriate medication management is enough to bring symptoms under control without a procedure. PT focuses on relieving nerve pressure through targeted stretching and strengthening exercises, improving posture and restoring normal movement in the cervical spine.

Medications

Medications that may be used alongside or instead of an injection include NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids for short-term flares, nerve-specific medications for radicular pain, and muscle relaxants.

Other Injections

Depending on your diagnosis, one of the following injections may be more appropriate:

Cervical medial branch blocks or facet injections: If your pain is primarily coming from the joints of the cervical spine rather than the discs or nerve, a medial branch block or cervical facet joint injections may provide better relief.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): If facet joint injections confirm that the facet joints are the source of your pain, RFA can provide longer-lasting relief by interrupting the pain signals from those joints.
Trigger point injections: For muscle-based neck pain with referred shoulder pain, injections into painful muscle knots can offer significant relief.

Dr. Kurdali will match the treatment to the source of your pain. He takes a personalized approach to treatment, so you get the relief you need for your neck discomfort.

Get Neck Pain Relief Near You in New Jersey

Chronic neck and arm pain is exhausting. It affects your concentration, your sleep, your work, and your mood. Turn to Kurdali Spine & Pain for treatment. We specialize in non-surgical relief for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain. Cervical epidural steroid injections are one of many tools we use in our convenient locations near you throughout New Jersey. Our approach is honest, individualized, and built around our goal of helping you feel better. Take the first step toward feeling like yourself again. Contact our office or request an appointment online today.

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections FAQ

Am I awake during the cervical epidural steroid injection procedure?

Yes. This injection is only done with local anesthesia.

How many cervical epidural steroid injections will I need?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some patients get lasting relief from a single injection, while others benefit from a series of two or three, spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Kurdali will reassess after each injection before he recommends additional treatment.

Will the cervical epidural steroid injection cure my condition?

While the injection reduces inflammation and relieves pain, it doesn’t repair a herniated disc or reverse arthritis. A cervical steroid injection is just the first step of your treatment, and it’s usually followed by physical therapy.