Cortisone Shots for Neck Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

- at least 18 years old

- Patient who will be getting a neck cortisone shot for pain that has been there for at
least 4 weeks

- A specific MRI finding (increased Short Tau Inversion Recovery signal) around 1 or
more of the joints in the neck

Exclusion Criteria:

- Those receiving disability, worker's compensation, or are involved in litigation
related to their pain.

- Those unable to read English and complete the assessment instruments.

- Those unable to attend follow up appointments

- The patient is incarcerated.

- Grade 2 or greater spondylolisthesis at the involved or adjacent segments.

- History of prior posterior cervical surgery. Anterior cervical surgery is not an
exclusion criteria.

- Progressive motor deficit, and/or clinical signs of myelopathy.

- Prior neck cortisone shots within the past 6 months.

- Possible pregnancy or other reason that precludes the use of fluoroscopy.

- Allergy to contrast media or local anesthetics.

- BMI>35.

- Systemic inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis,
lupus).

- Active infection or treatment of infection with antibiotics within the past 7 days.

- Chronic widespread pain or somatoform disorder (e.g. fibromyalgia).

- Addictive behavior, severe clinical depression, or psychotic features.