What Is a Nerve Block and What Types of Pain Does It Treat?

Many people across the globe are living with chronic pain. It can be debilitating and severely undercut your quality of life. It can also be challenging to find effective and long-lasting treatments.

For some people, traditional pain medications are ineffective, while others who find them effective may find their side effects unbearable. There are several alternative treatments for pain management. One that has been gaining traction is nerve block treatment. 

If you are considering nerve block treatment, choose a pain management specialist with experience and expertise to perform this procedure. 

We specialize in nerve block treatments and other pain management techniques at SEPA Pain & Spine, with six locations in southeastern Pennsylvania. We use the latest technology and methods to ensure we provide you with safe and effective treatments.

Our team of professionals provides a comprehensive approach to your pain management needs and works with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your needs.

Here we explore what a nerve block is, how it works, and what types of pain it can treat.

What is a nerve block?

A nerve block is a procedure that involves injecting medicine into or around a nerve that's transmitting pain signals to your brain. This blocks the communication between the nerve and your brain, providing targeted and almost immediate pain relief. 

The medicine used in most nerve blocks is typically an anesthetic, such as corticosteroid. At SEPA Pain & Spine, we offer sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks to stop pain signals from transmitting to your brain. 

What types of pain can a nerve block treat?

Nerve blocks can be used to treat various types of acute and chronic pain conditions, including:

Neck pain 

Both sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks can help relieve neck pain, mainly caused by nerve compression or inflammation. Sometimes, we consider a cervical nerve block, where we inject medication into your cervical nerves, which are those in your cervical spine (neck). 

Back pain 

Your facet joint is often responsible for back pain. In such a case, we directly administer a nerve block into an affected joint, reducing inflammation and relieving pain.

Headaches and migraines 

For chronic headaches and migraines, injecting medicines such as lidocaine or bupivacaine into nerves in the base of your head, such as the occipital nerve, helps block the pain signal from the nerves to your brain, providing almost instant pain relief. 

Joint pain 

Nerve blocks can treat pain in the hips, knees, shoulders, and other joints. It's most commonly used for knee pain and has proven effective when injected into the genicular nerves, the network of nerves responsible for feeling in your knees. 

Nerve blocks are an effective alternative to traditional pain medication for acute or chronic pain patients. The minimally invasive procedure provides targeted and effective pain relief without surgery or long-term use of pain medications.

If you want to learn more about nerve block treatments and how they can benefit you, schedule an appointment with us online today or call 855-235-7246. 

Our offices are in Horsham, Langhorne, Chalfont, East Norriton, Meadowbrook, and Limerick, Pennsylvania. We are dedicated to helping you find long-lasting relief from your pain and improving your overall quality of life.