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Chronic pain affects around 21% of adults in the United States, and if you’ve been living with it, you know how much it takes over your life. Pain can make it hard to enjoy the things you love, get through your daily tasks, or even get a good night’s sleep.
Maybe you’ve tried medications, physical therapy, or other treatments, but the pain keeps coming back. At Silver Spine & Neurological Center - Interventional Pain Management & Spine Surgery, we meet people like you every day and understand how frustrating this journey can be.
An interventional pain management option you might consider is a nerve block. Let’s take some time to explain what a nerve block is, how it works, and whether it might be the right choice for you.
Think of your nerves as messengers. When you have an injury or live with a condition like arthritis, those messengers keep sending pain alerts, even when they’re no longer helpful.
A nerve block is a procedure that targets specific nerves in your body, calming or temporarily turning them off to stop them from sending pain signals to your brain.
During the procedure, we inject medicine — usually a combination of a local anesthetic and a steroid — near the nerve or group of nerves causing the problem. This can bring quick relief and, in some cases, can last for weeks or even months.
We usually recommend nerve blocks for people with pain that doesn’t improve with more basic treatments. If physical therapy, rest, medications, or other therapies haven’t worked, or if you’re trying to avoid surgery, a nerve block could be a good option.
Nerve blocks are especially helpful for certain types of pain, such as:
Besides providing relief, nerve blocks also help us understand where your pain is coming from. If the block works, it confirms that the targeted nerve is the source of your pain. This information helps us plan your next steps, whether that’s physical therapy, long-term injections, radiofrequency ablation, or surgery.
It’s important to know exactly what happens when you have a nerve block before deciding if it’s right for you, so here’s a rundown:
We clean the area and typically apply a local anesthetic to numb the skin.
Using tools like fluoroscopy (fluorescent X-ray) or ultrasound, we guide the needle precisely to the right nerves.
We deliver the medication around the nerve.
Afterward, we watch you for a short time to ensure everything looks good before you head home.
Nerve blocks are quick outpatient procedures, so you’ll go home the same day. The entire process usually takes less than an hour, and most people describe it as mildly uncomfortable at worst. Many feel relief almost immediately.
Nerve blocks are generally very safe when experienced specialists like our team members administer them. Side effects are rare but might include temporary numbness, soreness at the injection site, or a feeling of weakness in the affected area. Serious complications are extremely uncommon.
We always review your medical history carefully and discuss any concerns you might have before moving forward.
A nerve block’s effects depend on your specific condition and how your body responds. Some people feel relief for just a few days, while others enjoy weeks or even months of reduced pain. Sometimes, we recommend a series of injections for longer-lasting relief.
In a recent study of genicular nerve blocks for osteoarthritic knee pain, patients enjoyed between 75% and 100% pain relief lasting 11-15 weeks.
Even if the effects aren’t permanent, nerve blocks can give you a valuable window of time to heal, rebuild strength through physical therapy, or explore other treatments without constant pain holding you back.
Every person’s pain is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we take a personalized approach to your care. If pain is interfering with your daily life and other treatments haven’t helped, a nerve block might be worth considering.
If you’re curious about nerve blocks or want to explore your options, reach out to Silver Spine & Neurological Center - Interventional Pain Management & Spine Surgery by phone or online. We’re here to answer your questions, ease your worries, and work together toward a future with less pain.