If you've been dealing with chronic pain that hasn't responded to medications or physical therapy, your doctor may recommend a nerve block. It's one of the most effective tools in interventional pain management — and understanding how it works can help you feel confident about the procedure.
How nerve blocks work
A nerve block is an injection of anesthetic and/or anti-inflammatory medication directly around a specific nerve or group of nerves. The goal is to interrupt pain signals traveling from the affected area to your brain. Think of it as turning down the volume on a pain signal that's been stuck at full blast.
Nerve blocks serve two purposes: they provide pain relief, and they help your doctor diagnose the source of your pain. If a nerve block to a specific area eliminates your symptoms, it confirms that nerve is the culprit — which guides further treatment decisions.
Common types
Epidural steroid injection: Medication is delivered into the epidural space around the spinal cord. Used for herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and sciatica. This is the most common nerve block performed at our practice.
Facet joint block: Targets the small joints along the spine that often cause neck and back pain, especially with arthritis. If effective, a longer-lasting radiofrequency ablation may follow.
Peripheral nerve block: Targets a specific nerve outside the spine — such as the occipital nerve for headaches, the suprascapular nerve for shoulder pain, or the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for thigh pain.
Sympathetic nerve block: Targets the sympathetic nervous system for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), vascular pain, and certain types of visceral pain.
What to expect
The procedure typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. You'll lie on an exam table while your doctor uses fluoroscopy (live X-ray) or ultrasound to guide the needle to the exact target. A local anesthetic numbs the skin first, so most patients feel only pressure — not sharp pain.
You may feel numbness, warmth, or immediate pain relief within minutes. The diagnostic effect of the anesthetic wears off in a few hours, but the anti-inflammatory component continues working over the next several days. Most patients experience meaningful relief within 3 to 7 days.
You can go home the same day. We ask that someone drive you, and recommend taking it easy for 24 hours afterward.
How long does relief last?
It depends on the condition and the type of block. Some patients get weeks to months of relief from a single injection. For chronic conditions, a series of blocks may be recommended, or your doctor may suggest radiofrequency ablation — a procedure that uses heat to disable the nerve for 6 to 18 months of sustained relief.
Our pain management team
Dr. Eric Chang and Dr. Andrew Germanovich are fellowship-trained in interventional pain medicine and perform all nerve blocks under image guidance for maximum precision and safety. They'll work with you to build a treatment plan that addresses your specific pain — not just mask it.
Precise, image-guided pain relief
At Restore Orthopedics, all nerve block procedures are performed by fellowship-trained specialists using real-time fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. Most patients are in and out within 30 minutes and can return to light activities the same day.
Chronic pain holding you back? We can help.
Same-week appointments. Most insurances and Medicare accepted.
Call (714) 598-1745