A nerve block is a useful tool when it comes to diagnosing back pain. Your spine specialist may use a nerve block to pinpoint the source of the pain in your back, especially if he or she sees something abnormal on an x-ray or MRI. The procedure for a nerve block starts with a topical anesthetic, and then while you are under conscious sedation, the specialist will guide a needle into the suspected problem area with the help of an x-ray. The specialist will then administer the nerve block. The entire procedure only takes about five minutes, and most of our patients are ready to go home just an hour later. You’ll experience pain relief, but the nerve blocking medication will wear off in a few hours.
The purpose of the nerve block is to help the doctor determine what’s causing your back or neck pain. If the pain goes away after the nerve block injection, the doctor can develop a treatment plan with the new diagnosis. That might include steroid injections, anesthetic medicines, or other minimally-invasive treatments.
What are the most common conditions treated?
- Neuropathic pain
- CRPS
