INJECTIONS AND NERVE BLOCKS
Are you experiencing pain?
Nerve blocks are procedures that can prevent and manage different types of pain. They block the pain from specific nerves. Injections and nerve blocks are used to manage chronic or long-term pain, pain after surgery.
If you’d like to learn more about this effective pain relief method, schedule an appointment by using the online form or calling our office.
What are nerve blocks?
Many pain treatments are focused on the vertebral column, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system. Depending on the underlying issue, a skilled interventionist may be able to offer less invasive procedures, such as spinal nerve blocks, instead of traditional open surgery approaches.
Minimally invasive techniques can alleviate congenital or acquired structural defects in bone, neural structures, and connective tissue. These procedures, in some instances done under local anesthesia and/or sedation, reduce the need for inpatient admission and extensive postoperative recovery. In addition, minimally invasive techniques can offer significantly less downtime to patients’ recovery and return to function. Swift reduction in pain can reduce long term health burdens to the patient, including minimization of reliance on opiate medications.
TREATMENTS
Epidurals For Arm And Leg Pain
Epidural steroids are often successful in helping alleviate symptoms for patients with neck or back pain that radiates to their arms and/or legs. In these cases, patients often have disc herniations or degenerative changes in their back, such as the narrowing of space in the spine, bulging discs, and bone spurs. These conditions can put stress on sensory nerves, leading to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the extremities.
Treating the epidural space, fat-filled areas between spinal bones and the protective layer surrounding spinal nerves, with steroids can reduce swelling in the region, thereby lessening pressure on the nerve(s). This leads to reduction of pain in the region as well as in areas connected to the affected nerve(s), such as in the arms and legs. After an initial, diagnostic nerve block to determine if the pain originates from the spine, additional treatments may be considered. Many patients require repeat treatment to maintain their pain relief.
Nerve blocks can be performed in the following areas:
- Cervical spine
- Lumbar spine
- Thoracic spine
Joint Injections
For individuals with joint pain, whether due to arthritis, injury, or degeneration, steroid nerve blocks within affected regions may be a successful treatment option. Often, these conditions are due to irritation within the joint and, therefore, the application of steroids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, into the affected regions can minimize pain. After an initial, diagnostic treatment to determine if the pain originates from the joint, additional treatments may be considered. Many patients require repeat nerve blocks to provide sustained relief.
Nerve blocks can be performed in the following areas:
- Facet joints of the spine
- Sacroiliac joint and coccyx
- Hip joint
- Shoulder, elbow, and hand
- Knee, ankle and foot
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point blocks are used to treat individuals with pain that is caused by knots within muscle, formed when the muscle is unable to relax. Sometimes, these painful regions of muscle, called trigger points, can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing additional pain that radiates to other regions of the body.
Applying anesthetic and/or steroid directly into the trigger point can block pain sensations and reduce inflammation in the region. Often, only one treatment is required to provide sustained relief. This treatment is often successful for individuals with infrequent development of trigger points as well as for those with Myofascial pain syndrome.