Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Nerve Blocks Are UsedTypesAreas of the BodyRisks and Side EffectsWhat to Expect
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Nerve Blocks Are Used
Types
Areas of the Body
Risks and Side Effects
What to Expect
A nerve block is a procedure done to interrupt nerve signals that cause pain in those withnerve dysfunction or injury. This may be done for diagnostic or treatment purposes, and its effects can be short- or long-lasting, depending on the type of nerve block that is done.
A temporary nerve block may involve application or injection of a chemical that stops pain signal transmissions for a period of time (think of epidural use during labor and delivery).
Permanent nerve blocks involve cutting or damaging certain parts of a nerve so pain signals cease. These are used in cases like severe back pain or other chronic pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments.
This article discusses how nerve blocks can be used to treat chronic pain and what to expect during a nerve block procedure.
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They might also doelectromyography (EMG)and/or a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test to narrow down the cause of your chronic nerve pain.
Types of Nerve Blocks
There are three types of nerve blocks: local, neurolytic, and surgical. While all three can be used for conditions that cause chronic pain, only neurolytic and surgical nerve blocks are permanent. These options are only used for severe pain that has not gotten better using other treatments.
Temporary Nerve Blocks
Local nerve blocks are usually temporary, although some are repeated over time to help with chronic pain from conditions like arthritis, sciatica, and migraine headaches.
Permanent Nerve Blocks
Aneurolytic blockuses alcohol, phenol, or thermal agents (e.g., cryogenic freezing) to treat chronic nerve pain.These procedures purposefully damage certain areas of the nerve pathway so that pain signals cannot be transmitted.
A neurolytic block is mainly used for severe chronic pain cases, such as pain from cancer or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). They are sometimes used to treat ongoing pain from chronic pancreatitis and pain in the chest wall after surgery.
Like a neurolytic block, a surgical nerve block is only used for severe pain cases, such as cancer pain ortrigeminal neuralgia.
Even though neurolytic and surgical nerve blocks are considered to be permanent, the pain can come back if the damaged nerves are able to regrow and repair themselves.
The pain does not always return. If it does, it may not be for months or years after the nerve block was done.
Nerve Blocks for Different Areas of the Body
Nerve blocks can be given in most parts of the body to help with pain, including:
Risks and Side Effects of Nerve Blocks
Even a temporary nerve block carries the risk of permanent nerve damage.Nerves are sensitive and regrow (regenerate) slowly, so even a tiny error in calculation can cause major side effects.
Common side effects of nerve blocks include muscle paralysis, weakness, or lasting numbness. In rare cases, nerve blocks may actually irritate the nerve more and cause more pain.
Fortunately, skilled and licensed health practitioners (such as dentists, surgeons, pain management physicians, and anesthesiologists) are trained to carefully perform these procedures.
While there is always a risk of nerve damage, most nerve blocks safely and successfully reduce chronic nerve pain.
What to Expect After a Nerve Block
You may feel temporarily numb or sore after a nerve block. You may notice some redness or irritation near the area where the needle was. This is usually not permanent and should get better with time.
If you have had a surgical block, you might be asked to rest for a certain amount of time after your procedure. Depending on how the surgery went, you may have to spend a few days recovering in the hospital.
Some pain may still be there after your nerve block, but that does not mean the procedure didn’t work. Some nerve blocks can also cause swelling, which compresses the nerve and requires time to get better.
When to Call Your ProviderIf the side effects of your nerve block are lasting longer than expected, call your provider.
When to Call Your Provider
If the side effects of your nerve block are lasting longer than expected, call your provider.
Summary
A nerve block is a way to temporarily or permanently treat pain. They use chemicals or numbing medications to interrupt nerve signals and relieve pain.
If you have chronic pain, your provider might want to try a nerve block to help diagnose the problem or give you some pain relief.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nerve blocks.NYU Langone Health.Nerve block for migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain: Hope through research.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis treatment.Cappellari AM, Tiberio F, Alicandro G, Spagnoli D, Grimoldi N.Intercostal neurolysis for the treatment of postsurgical thoracic pain: a case series.Muscle Nerve. 2018;58(5):671-675. doi:10.1002/mus.26298Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural ablation and regeneration in pain practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3-11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Hospital for Special Surgery.Regional anesthesia.Stanford Medicine.Types of nerve blocks.Anthem BlueCross.Peripheral nerve blocks for treatment of neuropathic pain.O’Flaherty D, McCartney CJL, Ng SC.Nerve injury after peripheral nerve blockade—current understanding and guidelines.BJA Education. 2018;18(12):384-390. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2018.09.004Stanford Medicine.Common patient questions about nerve blocks.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nerve blocks.NYU Langone Health.Nerve block for migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain: Hope through research.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis treatment.Cappellari AM, Tiberio F, Alicandro G, Spagnoli D, Grimoldi N.Intercostal neurolysis for the treatment of postsurgical thoracic pain: a case series.Muscle Nerve. 2018;58(5):671-675. doi:10.1002/mus.26298Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural ablation and regeneration in pain practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3-11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Hospital for Special Surgery.Regional anesthesia.Stanford Medicine.Types of nerve blocks.Anthem BlueCross.Peripheral nerve blocks for treatment of neuropathic pain.O’Flaherty D, McCartney CJL, Ng SC.Nerve injury after peripheral nerve blockade—current understanding and guidelines.BJA Education. 2018;18(12):384-390. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2018.09.004Stanford Medicine.Common patient questions about nerve blocks.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nerve blocks.NYU Langone Health.Nerve block for migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain: Hope through research.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis treatment.Cappellari AM, Tiberio F, Alicandro G, Spagnoli D, Grimoldi N.Intercostal neurolysis for the treatment of postsurgical thoracic pain: a case series.Muscle Nerve. 2018;58(5):671-675. doi:10.1002/mus.26298Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural ablation and regeneration in pain practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3-11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Hospital for Special Surgery.Regional anesthesia.Stanford Medicine.Types of nerve blocks.Anthem BlueCross.Peripheral nerve blocks for treatment of neuropathic pain.O’Flaherty D, McCartney CJL, Ng SC.Nerve injury after peripheral nerve blockade—current understanding and guidelines.BJA Education. 2018;18(12):384-390. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2018.09.004Stanford Medicine.Common patient questions about nerve blocks.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nerve blocks.
NYU Langone Health.Nerve block for migraine.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain: Hope through research.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis treatment.
Cappellari AM, Tiberio F, Alicandro G, Spagnoli D, Grimoldi N.Intercostal neurolysis for the treatment of postsurgical thoracic pain: a case series.Muscle Nerve. 2018;58(5):671-675. doi:10.1002/mus.26298
Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural ablation and regeneration in pain practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3-11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3
Hospital for Special Surgery.Regional anesthesia.
Stanford Medicine.Types of nerve blocks.
Anthem BlueCross.Peripheral nerve blocks for treatment of neuropathic pain.
O’Flaherty D, McCartney CJL, Ng SC.Nerve injury after peripheral nerve blockade—current understanding and guidelines.BJA Education. 2018;18(12):384-390. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2018.09.004
Stanford Medicine.Common patient questions about nerve blocks.
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