Selective Nerve Root Block/Spinal Nerve Block

This procedure is an injection of a small amount of cortisone (steroid) and numbing medication around a very specific nerve root/spinal nerve that exits out of the spinal cord. It can be done in the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest) and lumbar (low back) areas. This injection allows the doctor to determine exactly what nerve root or roots are being affected. This can be a diagnostic test (finding out which nerve is involved) or therapeutic test (providing pain relief) depending on the medications that are injected. Although uncommon, risks may include bleeding, infection, allergic reaction to the medications, puncture of the membrane that covers the spinal cord (dura), nerve damage and paralysis.