If you suffer from acute or chronic pain, your doctor may recommend a nerve block injection as a potential solution for temporary pain relief and an improved quality of life. This is a fairly common procedure in the world of pain management with a good track record of helping patients better manage their pain. Today we’re going to walk you through the basics of how and why they work.

 

About Nerve Blocks & Why They’re Used

Nerve blocks work by preventing a group of nerves’ impulses from reaching the central nervous system by injecting a nerve-numbing substance. They have the potential to be effective in targeting a specific grouping of nerves that is causing pain in an organ or fixed region in the body.

Nerve blocks have a variety of purposes, including therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic and preemptive. When used in the context of pain management, the aim is to prevent or relieve pain or – in some cases – create a total loss of feeling. Interested in learning more? Check out our full list of CPI’s comprehensive pain treatments right here.

  

Common Types of Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are versatile and can be done in surgical or non-surgical procedures. One of the more well-known types of nerve blocks is known as an “epidural” and is used to attempt to decrease or completely eliminate the pains involved in labor and childbirth. Other common types of nerve blocks include:

• Medial Branch Block (neck, shoulders, head)
• Occipital and trigeminal nerve blocks (face)
• Genicular Nerve Block (knee)
• Celiac Plexus Block (abdomen)
• Hypogastric Sympathetic Block (pelvis)
• Lumbar Sympathetic Block (lower back)
• Intercostal Nerve Blocks (chest area)

 

What to Expect During a Nerve Block Procedure?

The preparation for a nerve block is very minimal. Your comprehensive pain care team will tell you which medications to stop before the day of your procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before.

On the day of the procedure, you will most likely be asked to wear a gown. You will be prepared with an Intravenous (IV) line for the sedative to be administered. The procedure is performed on an X-Ray table, on which you will be asked to lie in a position that allows the most direct angle for the injection site. It is typically an outpatient procedure and should only take approximately 30 minutes.

 

Post Treatment & Results

For the first 24 hours following your nerve block procedure, you should avoid all strenuous activity as well as driving. You may experience some soreness at the injection site(s), which can be treated with a cold compress or icepack. The day following the procedure, you may resume normal activities as well as adding in more strenuous activities gradually if your pain has decreased.

It is sometimes helpful to keep a “pain diary” in the 7 days following your procedure to document pain levels and other symptoms to review with your doctor as needed.

 

Chronic Pain Relief Bedford TX

Clinics also located in Benbrook & Lewisville, TX

If you or a loved one is experiencing chronic pain and would like to know if a nerve block could help, get in touch today. Our pain management doctors will take the time to fully assess all your discomforts and find the best options for you!

Give us a call today at 817-786-8238 to learn more.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship.  Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information.