Nerve Block

Conditions Treated by Nerve Block

Patients experiencing chronic pain or acute pain may get a nerve block injection for temporary pain relief. Usually, this pain originates from the spine but radiates to areas such as the buttocks, neck, arms, and legs. 

Patients experiencing chronic or acute pain may get a nerve block for temporary pain relief. Administering a nerve block provides the damaged nerve a break from constant irritation. Moreover, it can also give physicians the diagnostic information necessary to plan further treatment. Nerve blocks are also frequently administered before surgeries to assist with perioperative pain control.

• Therapeutic nerve blocks are utilized in pain management for the treatment of painful conditions.
• Diagnostic nerve blocks are utilized to identify the source of pain and can be used in procedural and surgical planning.
• Preemptive nerve blocks help manage pain from a surgical procedure.

Other conditions/ situations where nerve blocks are utilized include:

• Labor pain and childbirth
• Cancer-related pain
• Arthritis pain
• Sciatica
• Neck pain due to herniated disc
• Pain due to shingles
• Pain due to spasms in blood vessels
• Raynaud’s syndrome

Different Types of Nerve Blocks:

• Peripheral nerve blocks:
  Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) are widely-used for surgical anesthesia as well as for both postoperative and nonsurgical analgesia. In pain medicine, these blocks are administered near the nerve that controls pain sensation around the injured tissue or bone.

• Sympathetic Nerve Blocks:
  Sympathetic blocks are widely used to treat visceral, ischemic, neuropathic, and sympathetically mediated pain, as well as many other conditions. These blocks are safe and effective and can alleviate suffering and aid in the recovery of a multitude of disorders including complex regional pain syndrome and cancer-associated pain.

Risks Associated with Nerve Blocks

Like many other medical procedures, nerve blocks do carry certain risks. However, these blocks are relatively safe and can have fewer side effects than narcotic pain medications. Some of the side effects and risks associated with a nerve block involve:

• Bruising
• Infection
• Tenderness at the injection site
• Bleeding
• Temporary or permanent nerve damage

What to Expect During the Procedure?

Administering nerve blocks is an easy and quick procedure. However, it is essential to know about the details of the process. After numbing the skin, a small needle is placed in proximity to the nerve under imaging guidance. During this process, the doctor may ask the patient to speak up immediately if a jolt of pain is experienced. A sudden jolt of pain means the needle is too close to the nerve and requires it to be re-positioned. Once the needle is safely positioned close to the nerve, local anesthetic and steroid are injected. Once the injection is administered, the patient may experience pain relief that can last months to years 

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