What is a nerve block?
If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain that’s been resistant to treatment, a nerve block may provide just the solution you’re looking for. A nerve block contains both an analgesic for the pain and a steroid to control inflammation. Your doctor injects it directly into the nerve root or bundle of nerves (called a ganglion) that’s responsible for the pain messaging.
What do nerve blocks address?
The interventional pain management specialists at Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center use nerve blocks for several reasons, including:
- Controlling pain and inflammation
- As a diagnostic tool to pinpoint the origin of your pain
- To control pain during surgery
There are many types of nerve blocks, but the most common include:
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar epidural blocks
- Facet joint blocks
- Peripheral nerve blocks
- Occipital nerve blocks
- Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks
- Cervical plexus blocks and paravertebral blocks for your shoulder and neck
- Brachial plexus, elbow, and wrist blocks
- Subarachnoid and celiac plexus blocks for your abdomen and pelvic region
Nerve blocks are highly effective in providing immediate relief from your pain, allowing your body some quiet time so it can heal.
How are nerve blocks performed?
The doctors at Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center are equipped with the latest imaging technology, which allows them to accurately target the nerve that’s responsible for your pain. Using a fluoroscope, which relies on X-ray technology, your doctor guides the needle into the right area and releases the injection. The pain specialists perform this procedure in their offices on an outpatient basis.
How long do nerve blocks last?
Nerve blocks are designed to allow your body enough time to heal properly, so they shouldn’t be considered a permanent fix. With a nerve block, your doctor temporarily shuts down the pain signals and addresses the inflammation in order to give your body time to repair itself.
For some, a nerve block may last a few days, while others experience several weeks of relief. You may need several nerve blocks to give your body enough time to deal with your problem, which also gives your doctor time to definitively locate the source of your pain and come up with a longer-term solution.
If you’d like to find out whether a nerve block can give you relief from your chronic pain, call Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center or use the online scheduler to book an appointment.
