NERVE BLOCKS

If you suffer from pain, numbness and tingling please Schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists as soon as possible.

What is a Nerve Block?

Pain Specialists often use Nerve blocks for pain treatment and management. Additionally, a bundle of nerves (called a plexus or ganglion) can cause pain to a specific organ or body region. Furthermore, specialists can block these nerve signals with an injection of medication into a particular area. Moreover, doctors call this injection of this nerve-numbing substance a Nerve Block. For some patients, Nerve Blocks can offer a non-surgical solution to issues like Lumbago.

How Are Nerve Blocks Used?

Pain Specialists use different kinds of nerve blocks for other purposes.

  • Therapeutic nerve blocks: used to treat painful conditions. Additionally, they contain a local anesthetic used to control acute pain.
  • Diagnostic nerve blocks are used to determine the sources of pain. These blocks contain a short-term anesthetic that allows for the identification of the source of the pain signal through a process of elimination.
  • Preemptive nerve blocks: used to prevent future pain that may occur from an upcoming procedure.
  • Sympathetic nerve block: performed to determine the presence of damage to the sympathetic nerve chain, a network of nerves extending the length of the spine. These nerves control some of the body’s involuntary functions, such as regulating the diameter of blood vessels.
  • Stellate ganglion block: This type of sympathetic nerve block helps reveal the existence of damage to the sympathetic nerve chain that supplies the head, neck, chest, or arms. Although primarily used as a diagnostic block, the stellate ganglion block may provide relief from pain for an extended period.
  • Facet joint block: Also known as a zygapophysial joint block, this block determines whether the pain stems from a facet joint. Facet joints sit toward the back of the spine, where each vertebra overlaps with the next. These joints guide and restrict the spine’s movement.

 

 

If you would like to speak with an Orthopedic Spine Specialist in the DFW Metroplex, please call at 817-697-4038, or contact us online. Telemedicine appointments are also available.