Summary of Procedure: Nerve Block
A sympathetic nerve block is used both to diagnose and treat the cause of burning, tingling, or painful sensations in a patient’s hands and arms or legs and feet. Sympathetic nerve blocks can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome to Raynaud’s Syndrome and from chronic stomach pain to burning, tingling, or pain in the extremities.
During this procedure, your physician injects medication near the patient’s spine. This stops the nerves from sending pain signals to that area. If these nerves are the root cause of the patient’s painful symptoms, this may be an effective method of managing their chronic pain.
During a sympathetic nerve block, the patient is given IV sedation medication to help them feel sleepy and relaxed. A local anesthetic is typically administered to the area of the patient’s neck or back that will be blocked. This procedure is done under fluoroscopy (live x-ray), which helps to ensure that the medication is going to the necessary location.
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What to Expect Post-Procedure of a Nerve Block
After the patient’s injection, the needle is removed, pressure applied, as well as a small bandage over the treated area. If the patient’s sympathetic nerves are being affected, oftentimes their hands and feet will feel warm or flushed due to the procedure and they will likely notice an alleviation of their typical symptoms.
Patients will wait in the recovery room for about an hour if sedation was used. Oftentimes, sympathetic nerve blocks results in weeks or months of pain relief.
If you are interested in learning more about pain management and nerve blocks, call a physician at Carolina Spine and Pain Centers today. You can get in touch with your local office by calling 864-808-2995 or by visiting our contact page and filling out an appointment request form.