Am I a Candidate for a Nerve Block Procedure?

The average case of chronic musculoskeletal pain — whether it causes neck tension, lower back spasms, limited joint function, or recurrent headaches — improves substantially with conservative measures like rest, activity adjustment, cold or heat therapy, physical therapy (PT), and OTC anti-inflammatory medications.  

But what about discomfort that persists despite your best pain management efforts?

When front-line treatments don’t deliver sustained chronic pain relief, it’s time to seek next-level care — and our team at Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates is here to help. Dr. Okezie N. Okezie explains when a pain relief procedure called a nerve block may be the best next-step solution.  

Lasting pain relief with a targeted “nerve block”

A nerve block is a pain relief procedure that blocks the sensation impulses sent from a nerve (or nerve bundle) transmitting continuous pain signals to the brain. When these impulses no longer reach the command center of your central nervous system, you experience complete, long-lasting pain relief.    

Here’s what this minimally invasive procedure typically entails:

1. Dr. Okezie numbs the injection area with a topical anesthetic
2. If your pain is severe, you may also receive IV sedation to help ease anxiety and make the overall procedure more comfortable
3. Using ultrasound imaging or fluoroscopy (a live X-ray) to pinpoint the problematic nerve area, Dr. Okezie injects the nerve block with highly targeted precision
4. Depending on the nature of the pain problem at hand, Dr. Okezie may administer one injection or multiple injections
5. The entire procedure is usually completed in 15 minutes or less

Nerve block injections contain a fast-acting local anesthetic, as well as a long-acting anti-inflammatory steroidal medication, to deliver relief from severe chronic pain that takes effect quickly and lasts up to several weeks at a time. 

A nerve block can alleviate many pain conditions 

A nerve block may be an excellent next step when chronic pain doesn’t improve after several weeks of first-step care strategies like rest, anti-inflammatory meds, and PT. These fast, minimally invasive injections can deliver effective relief for a range of pain conditions, including:  

• Back and neck pain (herniated disc)
• Pinched nerve pain (radiculopathy) 
• Worsening joint pain (osteoarthritis)
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction pain 
• Recurrent headaches or migraines
• Post-surgical or cancer-related pain
• Auto injuries; personal injury trauma
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Nerve blocks are frequently considered when chronic pain is physically limiting or severe enough to make progress in PT difficult. As a short-term management approach for difficult-to-treat pain, a nerve block can be an ideal assistive solution in many cases. 

Here’s when we might recommend a nerve block

The immediacy and lasting duration are the two main pain relief benefits of a nerve block: The anesthetic takes effect quickly, and the anti-inflammatory medication provides sustained relief for a few days — or up to a few weeks. You may be a candidate for the procedure if:

• You have one of the chronic pain conditions listed above, and
• Your pain has persisted despite weeks of conservative care, and
• You’d like to participate in physical therapy and avoid surgery, or
• You need to pinpoint the source of your pain with more accuracy

A nerve block can deliver much-needed pain relief that enables you to function better in your daily life, perform daily tasks with fewer limitations, and take an active role in your PT program — so you can continue advancing toward real healing and long-lasting relief without resorting to surgery.   

Nerve blocks can also help pinpoint the source of your pain with greater accuracy. When we inject the anti-inflammatory medication into a specific area, we can see — and then better treat — the nerves that keep you in ongoing pain.   

When you’re living with chronic pain, you only want relief — and Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates is here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at your nearest office in Humble or Baytown, Texas, today.