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Pain & rehab · 척추 신경차단술

Spinal Injection (Nerve Block) for Back and Neck Pain

Image-guided injection of local anesthetic and steroid near an irritated spinal nerve. Takes about 15 minutes; relief from days to several months.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 척추 신경차단술
  • Procedure time: 10 to 20 minutes, plus 20 to 30 minutes rest
  • Anesthesia: Local anesthetic at the skin
  • Sessions: 1, repeated if needed; steroid injections are usually limited to a few per year
  • Downtime: Rest for the day; normal activity next day
  • Results: Numbing effect within minutes; steroid effect over 2 to 7 days
  • Lasts: From a few weeks to several months

What is Spinal Injection (Nerve Block)?

Spinal nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections place medicine next to a nerve root irritated by a herniated disc or narrowed canal. They are among the most common non-surgical spine treatments at Korean orthopedic and pain clinics.

They aim to calm pain enough for you to move and exercise, not to fix the disc itself.

How it works

You lie face down while the doctor uses a C-arm X-ray (fluoroscopy) or ultrasound to guide a fine needle to the target, confirms the position with a small amount of contrast, then injects local anesthetic and usually a steroid. Types include transforaminal epidural, interlaminar epidural, medial branch block and facet joint injection.

Who it suits

  • Sciatica or arm pain from a disc herniation
  • Spinal stenosis with leg pain on walking
  • Facet joint pain in the lower back
  • People who want to avoid or postpone surgery

Who should skip it or wait

  • Progressive leg weakness or bladder or bowel changes (emergency surgery assessment)
  • Local or systemic infection
  • Uncontrolled diabetes, since steroids raise blood sugar
  • Pregnancy, due to X-ray exposure

Side effects and risks

  • Temporary leg numbness or weakness from the anesthetic
  • Raised blood sugar and facial flushing from steroids
  • Headache if the dura is punctured
  • Infection or bleeding (rare)
  • Rare serious nerve injury

Aftercare

  • Do not drive for the rest of the day
  • Monitor blood sugar if you have diabetes
  • Start gentle walking and the exercises prescribed
  • Report fever, severe headache or new weakness

Planning around your trip

Bring your MRI images on a disc or as a cloud link; Korean clinics can read them and may not need to repeat the scan.

Orthopedics clinics near Apgujeong

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Spinal Injection (Nerve Block) price

Prices for this treatment depend on the doctor's assessment, so clinics quote after consultation. Message us and we collect quotes from clinics near Apgujeong Station.

Spinal Injection (Nerve Block) questions

Do I need an MRI before a nerve block?

Usually yes, or at least a recent MRI report, so the doctor knows which level and side to target. Some clinics do an X-ray and decide on clinical findings for a first injection.

How many steroid injections per year are safe?

Many doctors limit epidural steroid injections to about 3 to 4 per year to reduce side effects such as bone thinning and blood sugar spikes.

Can I fly the day after a spinal injection?

Generally yes. Get up and walk during the flight; sitting for many hours can aggravate back pain.

What is the difference between a nerve block and epidural neuroplasty?

A nerve block injects medicine through a needle. Neuroplasty threads a catheter into the epidural space to break up adhesions and deliver medicine, takes longer and costs more.

Is this covered by insurance?

Basic nerve blocks are covered for people with Korean National Health Insurance. Uninsured visitors pay the full fee, which is still lower than many Western countries.

Will I be awake during the injection?

Yes. Only the skin is numbed. You lie still for about 10 minutes and can talk to the doctor throughout.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.