Participants who have a surgical procedure called Posterior Cervical (neck) Spine Surgery will normally need pain medication to relieve post operative pain. This usually includes opioid medications. In this study, the consented participant may receive a nerve block procedure, in addition to the pain relieving medication. There is a fifty-fifty chance to receive the nerve block. The goal is to see if the nerve block group needs less opioid medication, has lower pain scores and is discharged from the hospital sooner.
Having Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery from C2 - C7, which may extend to the upper thoracic vertebrae, inclusive to T3.
Capacity to provide informed consent
Fusion and decompression due to trauma
Emergent procedures
Patient is on a medication-assisted treatment, e.g., buprenorphine, naltrexone or methadone.
There is an infection near or in the area of neck where the block will be placed.