Nerve Block
A nerve block procedure uses a local anesthetic injection around a specific area of your body to lessen where you are experiencing pain and discomfort. The nerve block inhibits the nerve from receiving signals which can reduce pain for a nerve or groups of nerves. Additionally, this procedure may be beneficial to help diagnose the source of your pain as well as providing a level of pain relief.
Why It’s Done
A nerve block can be effective in a few situations including helping to diagnose the source of pain and discomfort as well as inhibiting nerves from receiving signals in a targeted area. The nerve block specifically limits the signals between nerves which can reduce the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing. Nerve blocks can be utilized throughout the body depending on the source of pain you may be experiencing. The procedure effects can last from a few days to a few weeks and patients may need multiple treatments to obtain their desired results.
Risks
What To Expect?
During Nerve Block Procedure
- To begin, you lie down.
- The doctor numbs the skin and tissue of the afflicted area with a local anesthetic.
- Next, the doctor carefully guides a needle to your nerve. An ultrasound probe lets your doctors see the needle to make sure it’s placed correctly.
- Finally, the medicine is injected. It bathes the nerve and can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
After Nerve Block Procedure
- After the injection, you are watched in a recovery room for a brief time.
- Then you can go home and follow your doctor’s instructions.
PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Interventional Pain Management?
Interventional Pain Management is a subspecialty that helps diagnose and treat pain related disorders by using various interventions (or injections/procedures). Interventional pain management is a way to help treat chronic and acute pain, manage various pain conditions either before or after surgery, and thus to minimize the use of prescription medications.
This can be done independently as a stand-alone treatment but can often be done in addition to physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic (when appropriate) as well as counseling.
Interventional techniques are minimally-invasive procedures that can include epidurals or other injections to put steroids or other medications in to a targeted area (usually part of your spine or various joints). Another approach is using needles to destroy the specific nerves that are the source of your pain. There are a few surgical techniques that can be completed as well which can include intrathecal infusion pumps for palliative pain conditions, spinal cord stimulators for intractable pain, dorsal root stimulators, basivertebral nerve ablations and decompression of the spine. We also use Botox® for migraines and dystonia.
What is the difference between pain management and interventional pain management?
Interventional pain management physicians use minimally invasive medical procedures to interrupt or slow the nervous system’s transmission of the pain signals from the nerve endings to the brain. In the case of chronic or severe pain, interventional pain management seeks to disrupt the pain cycle.
Pain management can include various forms of therapies as well as medications. Medications can include non-controlled substances and in some cases do require the use of controlled substances for calming pain conditions.
Where can patients have their Pain Management procedures done?
We have an in-office procedure suite with fluoroscopy (live x-ray) at our Reno location, or procedures can be done at an outpatient hospital or surgery center. Your insurance may impact where you can go for your procedure. Sierra Neurosurgery Group is happy to discuss your options when your appointment is being scheduled.
Can patients have sedation for Pain Management procedures?
Most procedures can be completed without the need for sedation. However for some patients sedation can help them relax and make the procedure more comfortable. If your procedure is completed in the office we can provide some oral sedation, however, if full sedation is requested then we perform your treatment at an outpatient hospital/surgery center.
How do I make an appointment with Sierra Neurosurgery Group?
Call us today at (775) 323-2080 or toll free (888) 323-2080. We have 5 locations to serve you: Carson City, Elko, Fallon, Reno and Sparks. If your health insurance plan requires a referral, contact your primary care or emergency room physician and request a referral to Sierra Neurosurgery Group.
Do you offer X-rays and MRI’s?
What to Expect From Your Visit
Sierra Neurosurgery Group is focused on providing the highest quality surgeries with the best possible patient care. We focus on creating a unique experience for each of our patients to show them we understand their current situation and to do our best to help them get back to living the life they want. We provide the best care to our patients because we have assembled a team of professionals with extensive surgical experience consisting of neurosurgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and interventional pain specialists. Our personnel, focus on patients, and quality of care allows Sierra Neurosurgery Group to be highly effective in creating the best results and outcomes for our patients.