How Long Does an Epidural Last for Neck Pain?

What is an Epidural Injection?

Typically, one receives an epidural injection due to the neck or upper back pain due to compressed nerves or muscle pain, causing serious discomfort that isn’t relieved by other methods.

The medication that this shot delivers usually focuses on inflammation and pain symptoms. New York neck injury doctors may also recommend this procedure for other related conditions, such as:

• Herniated cervical discs within the neck
• Neck pain related to aging spinal discs
• Pain that radiates from damaged nerves
• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Chronic neck and back pain

Often, epidural injections are an outpatient event that a New York pain management doctor can perform almost painlessly in the comfort of their office. If you are currently experiencing major discomfort of the neck because of a car accident or worker’s comp injury, you may want to ask your physician if this would help your situation.

How Do Neck Epidural Injections Work?

Inflammation is one of the main instigators of nerve pain in the neck, and epidurals help to target this issue to bring temporary relief.

By injecting medication into the exact area where your discomfort originates, you will experience a longer period of time without pain. Some patients report nearly instantaneous results after this procedure.

An epidural may have one of the following medications delivered the epidural space of your neck’s injury site:

• Anesthetic
• Steroids
• Anti-inflammatory medication

Depending on the severity of your condition, your New York whiplash injury doctor may use a CT scan or X Rays to pinpoint the precise spot where your pain begins.

How Long Does an Epidural Last?

It’s important to note that it isn’t uncommon for a patient to undergo a series of these injections after suffering car accident injuries that affect the neck, or as part of their treatment for worker’s comp injuries.

Relief times may vary depending on the severity of your condition, whether the exact location of the pain’s origination is known, and a variety of other factors. You may find yourself pain-free for just a few days or a couple of months, and your pain might return.

The goal is to take away your discomfort and allow you more movement to foster healing, but you might not have improved function after receiving an injection. For some, it simply eliminates unnecessary pain for a short time, while others can increase other aspects of their rehabilitative care easier.