Millions of Americans deal with chronic pain on a daily basis, with symptoms that can take a toll on both their physical health and their emotional wellness. While a combination of physical therapy, medication, and other treatments can help relieve some types of pain, many people find that these options don’t provide the level of relief they need — or any meaningful relief at all. That’s when nerve blocks can help.
At his practice in Sugar Land, Texas, Irfan Lalani, MD, PA, helps people manage pain using a patient-centered, custom approach that features the most advanced interventional pain treatments. Here, we explain how nerve blocks work and what to expect during and after a treatment session.
Even though pain seems to happen instantaneously, those sensations you feel develop from a surprisingly complex process involving hundreds of nerve pathways throughout your body.
Specifically, when you feel pain, a stimulus triggers your nerves to send chemical messengers to your brain. These messengers travel along nerve pathways; once they reach their destination, your brain interprets the signals as those painful sensations you feel.
Nerve blocks work by disrupting nerve pathways so the chemical messengers can’t reach the brain. Blocking the signaling interrupts the chemical pain cascade, and you don’t feel the sensation of pain.
Nerve blocks are useful in both short-term and long-term applications. They’re even used during some types of surgery, including many outpatient procedures, to avoid or limit the use of sedation.
Dr. Lalani offers several types of nerve blocks, depending on your symptoms and the underlying cause of pain. Some blocks are designed to treat peripheral nerve pain in your arms or legs, while others focus on spine-related pain or widespread pain syndromes, like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or fibromyalgia. Many people find nerve blocks to be very effective in managing migraines or arthritis.
Dr. Lalani provides nerve blocks on an outpatient basis. He uses a special needle or a long, thin tube called a catheter inserted under your skin and advanced to a specific area where pain originates. Imaging and other techniques isolate the nerves responsible for your symptoms, ensuring targeted, effective relief.
Nerve block solutions contain anesthetics designed to provide immediate pain relief and other components for longer-lasting effects. Depending on the type of block, the solution may contain anti-inflammatory medication to relieve swelling and nerve compression, along with special agents designed to damage the nerve so it can’t generate or transmit pain signals to your brain.
At the beginning of your treatment session, we carefully cleanse your skin and administer a local numbing agent to keep you comfortable. We then deliver the block using the appropriate technique for your needs. You might feel some slight pressure as the agent is being delivered, but the local anesthetic keeps you comfortable.
Interestingly, while doctors frequently use nerve blocks to disrupt pain, they also use nerve blocks to diagnose the nerves responsible for pain. Diagnostic nerve blocks temporarily block sensations along specific nerve pathways, making it easier to pinpoint the specific nerves responsible for your symptoms prior to administering a longer-lasting nerve block agent.
Once treatment is complete, we monitor you for a brief period before discharging you. You need to have someone drive you home, and you should plan to relax for the remainder of the day. We provide complete instructions regarding physical activity limitations depending on the area being treated and other factors.
It’s common to have localized soreness in the injection area. You can manage temporary symptoms using ice packs or over-the-counter pain relievers, as long as Dr. Lalani says it’s OK. Don’t take any medication without consulting Dr. Lalani first.
You might also have some numbness or tingling sensations in the treated area. These symptoms typically resolve within a few days. Pain relief can last for months, and treatments can be repeated as needed for longer relief.
Nerve blocks can provide long-term relief for many types of pain, reducing your need for pain medications and the potentially dangerous side effects they can cause. To learn more about nerve blocks and whether they’re appropriate for managing your symptoms, request an appointment with Dr. Lalani and his team today.
