Cervical Transforaminal Nerve Sheath Steroid Injections

These injections may be done for arm pain (brachialgia). Sometimes they also help to reduce neck pain and headaches.

These injections are done with X-ray or CT guidance to ensure accurate placement of the needle next to the nerve in the neck. Steroids and local anaesthetic are injected. Transforaminal nerve sheath injections are generally carried out under light sedation, and the patient is discharged within a couple of hours.

These injections have 2 main goals:

1. Diagnostic. If the pain in your arm is significantly reduced following injection of a specific nerve, this provides the physician with good evidence that the injected nerve is responsible for these symptoms. Confirming the diagnosis may allow other specific treatment options to be considered.
   
   
2. Therapeutic. These injections frequently result in a sustained benefit in terms of arm or leg pain, ranging from days to months. It is thought that the steroids reduce the amount of inflammation of the nerve, thereby reducing the amount of pain. The injections can be repeated when the pain returns.

As with any procedure, there are some inherent risks. The risk of a major complication is very low. These procedures are generally low-risk, but potential complications include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nerve damage (weakness, numbness, chronic pain)
• Headaches
• Stroke