Selective Nerve Root Block

A selective nerve root block injection is used to both diagnose and treat an inflamed spinal nerve. 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.

The selective nerve root block procedure can be done in the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest) and lumbar (low back) areas.

The procedure is an injection of a small amount of steroid and numbing medication around a very specific nerve root/spinal nerve that exits out of the spinal cord. This injection allows the doctor to determine exactly what nerve root or roots are being affected by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem. Although uncommon, risks from the selective nerve root block procedure may include bleeding, infection, allergic reaction to the medications, puncture of the membrane that covers the spinal cord (dura), nerve damage and paralysis.

Watch this video of a Selective Nerve Root Block in the cervical spine to understand how it works.

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