Invasive procedures Invasive procedures should be considered for the following: Persistent or worsening neurologic deficits, particularly objective deficits (eg, weakness, reflex deficits) due to cervical radiculopathies Acute compression of the spinal cord, causing myelopathy Severe, intractable nerve root pain or sensory deficits Immediate surgical evaluation is needed if clinical findings of spinal cord compression correlate with MRI abnormalities.