Interventional Procedures
Nerve Blocks
Targeted injections that interrupt pain signals along a specific nerve or nerve plexus.
Time in the office
Most nerve blocks take 10 to 20 minutes to perform, though the total appointment length varies with the target — sympathetic and plexus blocks may require additional monitoring time afterward.
When relief starts
Diagnostic information is usually available within the first 30 minutes, and therapeutic relief, when present, can range from a few days after a single block to months when a short series is used.
What it is
A nerve block places local anesthetic — often with a corticosteroid — directly around a nerve that is transmitting pain.
We perform occipital nerve blocks for headache, intercostal and abdominal wall blocks, sympathetic blocks such as stellate ganglion and lumbar sympathetic blocks for CRPS, and celiac plexus blocks for visceral abdominal pain.
Blocks can be diagnostic, therapeutic, or both.
What to expect, step by step
Depending on the target, guidance is by fluoroscopy, ultrasound or anatomic landmarks.
Most blocks take 10 to 20 minutes.
Sympathetic blocks may produce temperature or color changes in the limb — an expected sign the block worked.
Recovery
Most patients go home shortly after the procedure.
Numbness or weakness in the blocked area may last several hours.
You may need a driver depending on the block performed.
Typical results
Diagnostic information is available immediately.
Therapeutic relief may last from days to months and often improves with a short series.
For CRPS, blocks are most effective when paired with active physical therapy during the relief window.
Risks and considerations
Serious complications are uncommon, but no procedure is risk-free and you deserve the honest version before you consent.
- Temporary numbness or weakness in the area supplied by the treated nerve
- Bruising or soreness at the needle site
- For sympathetic blocks, temporary drooping eyelid, hoarseness or flushing on the treated side
- Rare risk of infection, bleeding or, for chest and abdominal blocks, injury to a nearby structure such as the lung
- Variable and sometimes short-lived duration of relief, especially after a single block
Common questions
What is a stellate ganglion or lumbar sympathetic block used for?
How many blocks will I need?
Is ultrasound or X-ray used?
Can a nerve block be used for cancer-related pain?
Conditions this treats
Nerve Blocks is most often recommended for the conditions below, once the source of pain has been confirmed.
- Complex Regional Pain SyndromeA disproportionate pain response after injury, with skin, temperature and swelling changes in a limb.
- Chronic HeadachesFrequent headaches including cervicogenic and occipital neuralgia patterns arising from the neck.
- Abdominal PainPersistent abdominal and pelvic pain, including visceral, post-surgical and abdominal wall sources.
- NeuropathyNerve damage causing burning, numbness and tingling, most often in the feet, legs and hands.
- Cancer PainPain from tumor, treatment or nerve involvement, managed alongside the patient's oncology team.
Related treatments
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
- Facet Joint InjectionsSteroid and anesthetic placed inside an arthritic facet joint to confirm the pain source and calm inflammation.
- Medial Branch BlocksA precise diagnostic block of the small nerves carrying pain from a facet joint, used to plan longer-lasting treatment.
- Radiofrequency AblationRadio waves used to interrupt pain signals from confirmed facet or sacroiliac nerves, often giving relief for a year or more.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.