Skip to Main Content
Care calculator » Services » Medicine and Surgery Services »

Cost of lumbar nerve root injection by state

The following estimated costs are based on cash prices that providers have historically charged on average for lumbar nerve root injection and will vary depending on where the service is done. The prices do not include the anesthesia, imaging, and other doctor visit fees that normally accompany lumbar nerve root injection.

Need help to cover that price?

See how Sidecar Health insurance can help cover your medical needs.

Learn More
StateName Average Cash Price
Alabama $1,097
Alaska $1,484
Arizona $1,241
Arkansas $1,087
California $1,362
Colorado $1,199
Connecticut $1,312
Delaware $1,275
District of Columbia $1,263
Florida $1,204
Georgia $1,129
Hawaii $1,142
Idaho $1,109
Illinois $1,259
Indiana $1,148
Iowa $1,044
Kansas $1,081
Kentucky $1,106
Louisiana $1,227
Maine $1,109
Maryland $1,305
Massachusetts $1,345
Michigan $1,239
Minnesota $1,395
Mississippi $1,115
Missouri $1,102
Montana $1,147
Nebraska $1,121
Nevada $1,184
New Hampshire $1,188
New Jersey $1,439
New Mexico $1,093
New York $1,354
North Carolina $1,087
North Dakota $1,207
Ohio $1,130
Oklahoma $1,209
Oregon $1,233
Pennsylvania $1,273
Rhode Island $1,357
South Carolina $1,158
South Dakota $1,079
Tennessee $1,088
Texas $1,176
Utah $1,226
Vermont $1,203
Virginia $1,170
Washington $1,305
West Virginia $1,171
Wisconsin $1,236
Wyoming $1,203

What is a lumbar nerve root injection?

A lumbar nerve root injection is a treatment for severe pain in the lower back. The nerve roots are the locations where the nerves exit the spine. Old age, injury, arthritis, and multiple other medical conditions can lead to these nerve roots being compressed. This leads to severe cramping/stabbing pain in the lower back. 

A lumbar nerve root injection involves injecting a small amount of steroid solution around these nerve roots to reduce the swelling, inflammation, and pain that results from the root being compressed. These injections often contain an anesthetic that temporarily numbs the nerve root, preventing the steroid injection from causing serious pain. This anesthetic also helps to provide some immediate relief until the steroid can begin reducing inflammation.

Are nerve root injections painful?

Pain at the injection site is one of the main side effects of lumbar nerve root injections. These injections must pass through the skin and the muscles of the back to reach the nerve roots. The pain is often reported as being similar to any other injection and is generally far less severe than the pain in the back that is being treated with the injection. This pain fades away within minutes once the injection is complete.

What can I expect after a nerve root injection?

Depending on what is contained within the injection, you may have relief of pain within minutes. Sometimes, it may take a few days to feel a lessening of pain. This relief can be temporary, fading away within weeks, or may be permanent. The exact speed of pain reduction and how long pain reduction lasts will depend on exactly what is causing your pain.

Side effects from nerve root injections are very rare. The most common side effect is pain at the injection site. In rare cases patients report headaches and a temporary increase in pain following injection.

How long should you rest after a nerve root injection?

There is no specific period of time that you have to rest after a nerve root injection. These injections do not cause any damage to the nerves, muscles, or bones of the spine, so no rest is required. Most patients recover from the pain of the injection within 15 minutes. 

The relief of pain following the injection may lead you to become far more active than you were before. This can lead to muscle soreness and other injuries. Your doctor will likely recommend that you gradually increase your activity level to ensure that you do not cause yourself pain in another area.

How successful are nerve root injections?

Nerve root injections are considered very successful. One large study that collected the results of many smaller studies estimates the success rate to be 76-88%, with success being defined as “significant relief of pain,” as reported by patients.

How long does a lumbar nerve root injection last?

The exact duration of time that a nerve root injection lasts varies significantly based on the patient and what is causing their back pain. Patients with minor injuries generally see total relief from pain for months, or even years. Those with more serious chronic conditions may only have relief for a few days or some weeks. Your physician will be able to give you more information on how lumbar nerve root injections may affect your specific condition.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.