14 Jul How Nerve Blocks Interrupt Pain Signals and Speed Your Recovery
Nerve pain can feel sharp, burning, or electric. It can stop you from working, sleeping, or enjoying time with family. When rest and basic care aren’t enough, a nerve block may help. Nerve blocks target the problem area, calm irritated nerves, and make it easier for you to move and heal.
What is a nerve block?
A nerve block is an injection placed near a specific nerve or group of nerves. The shot includes a numbing medicine and sometimes a small amount of anti-inflammatory medicine. The goal is simple: quiet pain signals before they reach your brain.
How does it stop pain?
Nerves act like wires. When a nerve is irritated, it sends nonstop pain messages. A nerve block bathes the nerve in numbing medicine. This blocks or slows those messages. With less pain, you can walk, stretch, and do physical therapy without flare-ups.
Common types of nerve blocks
- Medial branch (facet) blocks: Target tiny nerves that feed painful spinal joints in the neck or lower back.
- Selective nerve root blocks: Focus on a single spinal nerve pinched by a disc or bone spur, often used for sciatica.
- Sympathetic nerve blocks: Help certain nerve pain conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome.
- Peripheral nerve blocks: Treat pain in a specific area outside the spine, such as the shoulder, hip, or knee.
What to expect on the day of your procedure
- Consult and plan: Your doctor reviews your history and may order an X-ray or MRI to find the exact source of pain.
- Preparation: You lie or sit in a comfortable position. The skin is cleaned and a small amount of local anesthetic is used.
- Imaging guidance: Using live X-ray or ultrasound, the doctor places a thin needle next to the target nerve.
- Injection: The medicine is delivered. You rest for a short time and then go home the same day.
Why nerve blocks can speed recovery
- Fast relief: Many people feel better within minutes to hours as the numbing medicine takes effect.
- Targeted: Treatment goes straight to the problem area instead of affecting your whole body.
- Ready for therapy: With less pain, you can start or progress physical therapy, build strength, and move with better form.
- Diagnostic value: If your pain improves, it helps confirm the true pain source and guides next steps.
How long does relief last?
Relief can last from several hours to weeks, depending on your condition and the medicines used. Some patients need a brief series of injections. Others may move on to longer-lasting options, such as radiofrequency ablation for facet joint pain, if the block works well.
Possible side effects
Nerve blocks are generally safe. You might notice mild soreness, temporary numbness, or weakness in the treated area. Rare risks include bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction. Your care team uses sterile technique and imaging guidance to keep risks low.
Who is a good candidate?
You may benefit if you have:
- Pain that travels down an arm or leg
- Spinal joint pain from arthritis
- Nerve pain that limits daily activities
- Symptoms that block progress in physical therapy
If nerve pain is holding you back, you don’t have to live with it. Schedule a consultation today to see if a nerve block is right for you. Our team will review your options, create a plan that fits your goals, and help you get back to the activities you love.