Cervical Neuroplasty: A Non-Surgical Solution for Chronic Neck Pain

Neck pain, arm numbness, and radiating nerve pain can significantly affect daily life. Conditions such as cervical slip disc, cervical spondylosis, nerve compression, and post-surgery adhesions often lead to persistent symptoms that don’t respond well to medicines or physiotherapy alone.

Cervical neuroplasty, also known as cervical epidural adhesiolysis, is an advanced, minimally invasive, non-surgical spine treatment designed to relieve pressure on cervical nerves and restore normal nerve function.

What Is Cervical Neuroplasty?

Cervical Neuroplasty is a fluoroscopy (live X-ray) guided interventional pain management procedure. It targets scar tissue, inflammation, and adhesions around the cervical nerves that block medication delivery and compress nerve roots.

By mechanically and chemically releasing these adhesions, the procedure allows medications to reach the exact pain-generating nerve, helping reduce:

Neck pain
Arm pain and tingling (cervical radiculopathy)
Numbness or weakness
Nerve compression symptoms

Why Is This Procedure Needed?

In many chronic neck pain cases, the problem is not just disc bulge or degeneration—it’s the scar tissue and inflammation around the nerve roots that prevent proper blood flow and medication absorption.

Common causes include:

Cervical slip disc / disc bulge / disc herniation
Cervical spondylosis
Chronic nerve inflammation
Post-surgery adhesions (failed neck surgery syndrome)

When oral medications or standard injections fail to provide long-term relief, Cervical Neuroplasty offers a targeted, non-surgical alternative before considering surgery.

How Is Cervical Neuroplasty Performed?

The entire procedure is done under live X-ray guidance to ensure safety and precision.

Step-by-Step Process:

The patient is positioned comfortably on the procedure table.
A thin, flexible catheter is inserted into the cervical epidural space.
Using fluoroscopy, the catheter is guided to the exact nerve root causing pain.
Scar tissue and adhesions are gently released using mechanical and chemical methods.
A combination of medication is delivered:
- Steroid (to reduce inflammation)
- Local anesthetic (to control pain)
- Saline or enzyme (to improve nerve mobility and drug spread)

Procedure Time: 30–45 minutes
Discharge: Most patients go home the same day

Who Can Benefit from Cervical Neuroplasty?

This treatment is especially useful for patients with:

Cervical radiculopathy (neck pain radiating to the arm)
Neck-level slip disc or disc bulge
Nerve compression
Cervical canal stenosis (selected cases)
Persistent pain after neck surgery
Failure of medicines and physiotherapy

Benefits of Cervical Neuroplasty

Non-surgical treatment
No large cuts or stitches
Targeted nerve pain relief
Same-day discharge
Faster recovery
Reduced need for spine surgery
Improved neck and arm movement

Is It Safe?

When performed by an experienced interventional pain specialist under proper X-ray guidance, Cervical Neuroplasty is considered safe and effective.

Possible Side Effects (Usually Temporary):

Mild neck discomfort
Headache

Rare Complications:

Infection
Bleeding
Temporary nerve irritation

These risks are minimal with proper sterilization and expert handling.

Cervical Neuroplasty vs. Surgery

Feature	Cervical Neuroplasty	Spine Surgery
Approach	Minimally invasive	Major surgical procedure
Cuts/Stitches	No	Yes
Hospital Stay	Same-day discharge	Multiple days
Recovery Time	Fast	Long recovery
Risk Level	Low	Higher
Targeted Nerve Relief	Yes	Structural correction

Conclusion

Cervical Neuroplasty is an advanced, non-surgical and patient-friendly option for chronic neck pain and nerve-related symptoms. It offers targeted relief, faster recovery, and the possibility of avoiding surgery for many patients.

With accurate diagnosis and expert guidance, this procedure can significantly improve quality of life, mobility, and long-term pain control.