Nerve Blocks
Stopping Pain at the Source
Nerve blocking is a form of therapy that uses injected medication to interrupt the pain signals sent from your nerves to your brain. As a result, your body no longer feels the pain related to symptoms, even when the underlying condition can’t be cured. There are several types of nerve blocks—therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic, and preventive—and each serves a different medical purpose.
Therapeutic nerve blocks are the most common type, using local anesthetic, steroids, or other painkillers to relieve acute pain generated by groups of nerves. Therapeutic nerve blocks can be used to treat arthritis, spinal disorders, and other pain throughout the body.
Diagnostic nerve blocks help determine the source of pain through a process of elimination, while prognostic nerve blocks indicate whether a potential surgery or treatment will be effective. Both procedures use a temporary nerve block that wears off after a relatively short period.
Preventive nerve blocks are used when you are expected to feel chronic or phantom pain as the result of a surgical procedure. These nerve blocks may permanently stop the nerves from transmitting signals and are typically only used when necessary.
In addition to the different nerve block purposes, your Kayal Pain & Spine Center specialist also may use nerve blocks to target certain areas of the body including:● Ganglion impar/coccyx block for tailbone pain● Spine & peripheral nerve blocks for pain stemming from spinal nerve roots● Sympathetic nerve blocks for pain involving the sympathetic nervous system
Pre-Op & Aftercare
What to expect before, during and after nerve blocks
Nerve blocks are an outpatient procedure and you typically don’t need to take any steps to prepare for their appointments. However, we will discuss your specific circumstances with you in advance and let you know if there’s anything you need to do. If you have questions about your procedure at any point in the process, please let us know.
Following the procedure, you may feel tenderness or soreness caused by the needles used to administer the blocks. However, this discomfort goes away within a few days.
The relief from nerve blocking is usually immediate and you can resume your everyday activities within just a few hours. In rare instances, nerve blocks won’t eliminate all the pain and additional nerve blocks or alternative procedures may be considered.
Benefits
Discover the advantages
Therapeutic and preventive nerve blocks benefit patients by eliminating or reducing chronic pain, ultimately improving physical comfort and quality of life. Patients who receive this therapy tend to feel happier and healthier and are able to resume activities that became too difficult during their pain.
In some cases, nerve blocking enables you to participate in physical therapy previously prevented by the pain, resulting in a stronger and healthier body overall. Even if you don’t need professional therapy, you will find a healthy, happier lifestyle is easier to obtain after your pain is gone.
Diagnostic and prognostic nerve blocks allow the team at Kayal Pain & Spine Center to develop treatment strategies that are right for you. Because these forms of nerve blocks are temporary, it’s possible to determine whether a permanent measure would decrease pain.
The team of elite surgeons and medical experts at Kayal Pain & Spine Center has extensive experience with nerve blocks and other pain management therapies. We are happy to work with you to determine whether nerve blocks are the best course of therapy for your condition and symptoms. Our mission is to ensure you receive the relief you deserve.