What is a Nerve Blocker?
A nerve block is a minimally invasive procedure that helps alleviate pain by injecting medication near a specific nerve or group of nerves. The procedure disrupts pain signals from reaching the brain and helps provide relief from acute or chronic pain conditions.
A test block is usually done with a short-acting local anesthetic. It numbs the area of pain to see if you get good pain relief. If you do, your doctor may inject another medicine, such as a steroid or alcohol, that may provide long-lasting pain relief.
Why It Is Done
Nerve blocks may be used to:
- Relieve painful conditions
- Find the source of chronic pain.
- Predict how pain will respond to long-term treatments.
What you can expect before and after treatment:
How well a nerve block for chronic pain works depends on the type of block, the medicines used, and the cause of the pain that's being treated. Some blocks last from a few hours up to a day. Others last for months. And some can give permanent relief. Sometimes the block needs to be repeated as often as once a week.
Your doctor can help you understand how well a nerve block might work for you.
Problems after a nerve block aren't common. There is a small risk of nerve damage, infection, or bleeding.
During the Procedure
A typical nerve block procedure involves the following steps:
Skin Preparation: The skin around the injection site is cleansed with an antiseptic solution to minimize the risk of infection.
Local Anesthesia: A local anesthetic may be applied to numb the skin before the nerve block injection.
Needle Placement: Physicians may use imaging guidance (such as ultrasound) to carefully insert a thin needle toward the targeted nerve.
Medication Injection: Once the needle is in the correct position, the medication is injected. It may include a local anesthetic, steroid, or other agents.
Monitoring: The patient’s vital signs and comfort level are closely monitored throughout the procedure.
After the Procedure
Following the nerve block, patients typically undergo a period of observation to assess for any immediate side effects. Post-procedure care may include:
Recovery Time: Patients may need to rest for a short period after the procedure before resuming normal activities and blood pressure will be taken.
Pain Assessment: The pain management doctor will evaluate the level of pain relief achieved and discuss any further treatment options if needed.
Post-procedure Instructions: Patients are given clear instructions about wound care, activity restrictions, and possible side effects to monitor.
Follow-up Appointment: A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to monitor the nerve block’s effectiveness and discuss long-term pain management strategies.
Next Steps...
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