New cases of chronic pain rise faster each year than almost any other chronic condition, and neck and back pain top the list. Finding the right intervention makes all the difference in your quality of life.
Our board-certified physicians at Pain Management Specialists use the latest advances in interventional pain management to help you feel better, faster. Nerve blocks disrupt pain signals, providing relief for chronic pain, severe acute pain, and post-surgery pain.
Here's what you should know if your treatment plan includes one.
A nerve block is like a targeted pause button for pain. Our physicians inject a local anesthetic, often combined with a steroid, directly around the nerve that's sending pain signals. Once the medication takes effect, the problem nerve stops transmitting pain.
The type of nerve block you receive depends on the location of your pain. If you have arthritis in your spine, a facet joint injection numbs the small joints that connect your vertebrae.
If a compressed or irritated nerve root is causing pain that radiates into your arm or leg, a selective nerve root block delivers medication right where that nerve exits your spinal column. Our team also treats headaches at the base of your skull, chest, and abdominal pain, and nerve pain following surgery.
Many patients try physical therapy, chiropractic care, or oral medication first, and these approaches are effective for many conditions. But when you have stubborn pain, a nerve block offers a more targeted approach. Rather than treating your whole body, a nerve block goes straight to the source.
Nerve blocks also double as a diagnostic tool. If your pain fades after the injection, it means our team has found the problem nerve causing your pain. This information plays a key role in the rest of your care.
Tell your Pain Management Specialists provider about every medication and supplement you take, since blood thinners can increase bleeding risk and may need to be paused beforehand. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and arrange a ride home in case you feel any lingering numbness or receive mild sedation.
Our team cleans the injection site, numbs your skin, and then uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound imaging to guide a thin needle precisely to the nerve at issue. That imaging guidance matters: it means the medication goes exactly where it needs to, so you get the most relief possible.
Once the needle is positioned, our team delivers the anesthetic-steroid mixture, and the process is typically completed within minutes.
Most patients feel relief within 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes alongside temporary numbness or mild weakness near the injection site. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day and hold off on strenuous activity until that numbness fades.
Some patients enjoy months of pain-free living, while others need repeat injections every few weeks. If your relief doesn't last, our physicians may recommend exploring other options like neuromodulation or spinal cord stimulation.
To learn more about nerve blocks or if you have any questions, contact Pain Management Specialists to schedule your visit or request an appointment online at our Rockville or Frederick, Maryland, office today.
