Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks, or neural blockades, are procedures that can help prevent or manage many different types of pain. They are often injections of medicines that block the pain from specific nerves. They can be used for pain relief as well as total loss of feeling if needed for surgery. The following are the types of nerve blocks that the Texas Pain Experts team performs.
MEDIAL BRANCH BLOCKS
This is an injection of numbing medicine. It bathes the medial branch nerves, which attach to the facet joints of your spine. These nerves hurt when facet joints are injured or diseased. The injection helps find the source of your pain. This procedure typically involves treating several levels of the spine at once.
Medial branch blocks can be performed in the following areas:
Cervical Spine: This is the neck region of your spine and consists of the first 7 bones called C1-C7.
Thoracic Spine: This is the middle section of your spine and extends from your neck area to the bottom of your ribs.
Lumbar Spine: This is the lower section of your spine and consists of 5 bones called L1-L5.
FEMORAL NERVE BLOCK
Femoral neuropathy results in the inability to move or feel part of the leg due to a damaged femoral nerve. This could be from injury, pressure on the nerve, or as a result of a disease. This is an outpatient procedure your physician uses to numb the leg either before or after surgery. A local anesthetic is used and its effects usually reside after a few hours.
OCCIPITAL NERVE BLOCK
An occipital nerve block is often used to treat chronic headaches including a distinct type of headache called occipital neuralgia or Arnold’s Neuralgia. These headaches are caused by irritation or injury of the occipital nerves. Occipital nerves travel from the base of the skull through the scalp. These headaches can result in severe pain and muscle spasms.
This minimally invasive intervention involves injecting a steroid, or other similar medication, into the occipital nerve region at the back of the head and above the neck.
GENICULAR NERVE BLOCK
This outpatient procedure is an injection of anesthetic to the genicular nerves. These are the sensory nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. Anesthetizing these nerves can disrupt the pain signals caused by degeneration of the knee. A genicular nerve block can provide temporary pain relief. It may help determine if a patient is a candidate for nerve ablation, which can provide long-term pain relief.
INTERCOSTAL NERVE BLOCK
An intercostal nerve block is an injection of steroid medication and local anesthetic injected under a rib that helps relieve pain in the chest area caused by a herpes zoster infection (or “shingles”) or a surgical incision. It can also be used to help diagnose the source of pain.
COCCYX OR COCCYGEAL NERVE BLOCK
A coccygeal nerve block is an injection of steroids or another appropriate medication in the area of the nerves surrounding the coccyx in the lower back and tailbone region.
Treatments Offered
Our team of physicians use a variety of surgical and non-surgical options in an effort to provide patients with the very best treatment for their unique pain conditions.
Conditions Treated
We provide holistic relief for a variety of pain conditions with the primary goal not to simply minimize pain and discomfort, but to provide a better quality of life.
Our Physicians
Our physicians are committed to providing patients the very best care to help our patients regain control of their lives through the latest in pain management techniques.
