What is a Nerve Block?
A nerve block is an injection that uses local anesthetic to target a nerve or group of nerves to lessen or eliminate pain. In some blocks, anti-inflammatory medication will be used with local anesthetic to aid in the healing of nerves that have become damaged.
What Do Nerve Blocks Treat?
Nerve blocks are used to prevent or manage chronic pain and other pain conditions, and can also be used as a diagnostic test.
How Does the Procedure Work?
There are various types of nerve blocks based on the pain or location of pain they treat. Some of the nerve blocks offered by Comprehensive Centers for Pain Management are:
Celiac Plexus Block – This nerve block treats abdominal pain typically caused by pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis. A needle is guided past the spine, directly to the celiac plexus, which transmits pain signals from the pancreas to the brain. Anesthetic is injected, stopping the pain signals from being sent to the brain.
Genicular Nerve Block (GNB) – This nerve block treats pain originating in the knee. A needle is guided to the genicular nerves, which transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. Anesthetic is injected, stopping the pain signals from being sent to the brain. This nerve block can be used as a diagnostic test, to determine the viability of radiofrequency ablation in the knee.
Intercostal Nerve Block – This nerve block treats pain in the lateral chest, most commonly caused by shingles. The intercostal nerves are located under each rib. A needle is guided to the intercostal nerve, and a mixture of anesthetic and steroid medication is injected to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB) – This nerve block treats pain in the extremities or phantom limb pain. A needle is guided to the sympathetic nerves, located on both sides of the spine, and a mixture of anesthetic and steroid medication are injected into and around the sympathetic nerves. To provide maximum relief, this nerve block is typically done in a set of 3, with subsequent blocks being completed 1-2 weeks apart.
Medial Branch Block (MBB) – This nerve block treats pain originating in the spine, often associated with tenderness around the spine. Patients typically do not have radiating pain. A needle is guided to a medial branch nerve, that connect to the facet joints of the spine. A mixture of anesthetic and steroid medication is injected to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. This nerve block can be used as a diagnostic test, to determine the viability of radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves.
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) – This nerve block treats pain in the head, neck, arms, and upper chest. A needle is guided to the sympathetic nerve, located in the neck, near the voice box. Anesthetic is injected, stopping the pain signals from being sent to the brain. To provide maximum relief, this nerve block is typically done in a set of 3, with subsequent blocks being completed 1-2 weeks apart.
Transversus Abdominal Plane Block (TAP) – This nerve block treats superficial abdominal pain. Originally only used for postsurgical pain, this injection has proven to be effective for acute and chronic abdominal pain.
What are the Risks?
With any injection, there is a risk of infection. Nerve blocks are one of the safest procedures, offering relief with low risks.
Benefits of Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are a fantastic tool for patients with pain, by treating it directly, or acting as a diagnostic test to allow for more substantial treatment, such as radiofrequency ablation. These safe injections have a minimal recovery time, and patients are often able to return to their normal routine within 24 hours.