Nerve Blocks

When your current treatment for chronic pain isn’t working as it should, the medical team at Commonwealth Pain & Spine offers the convenience of in-office nerve blocks. At each of their Kentucky and Indiana offices, the board-certified physicians can deliver pain-relieving anesthetic medicines to increase your mobility and help your body heal. To find out if nerve blocks are the right solution for your chronic pain, schedule a consultation by phone with the pain management specialists at Commonwealth Pain & Spine. Commonwealth’s Kentucky offices are in St. Matthews, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Crestview Hills, Owensboro, and London. Indiana offices are in Evansville, Vincennes, New Albany, Carrollton, and Jasper. They also serve patients from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

What is a Nerve Block?

A nerve block is an injection therapy that delivers medications to one or a group of nerves to ease or eliminate pain.

The medications used in the treatment include a local anesthetic to disrupt the pain signals that travel to your brain. You can also receive anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce inflammation that could be contributing to your pain.

What Conditions Can Nerve Blocks Treat?

The medical staff at Commonwealth Pain & Spine can recommend the type of nerve block you need based on the severity and cause of your pain.

Nerve blocks can address chronic pain resulting from injuries or underlying disease that affect your:

• Face
• Arms
• Neck
• Back
• Legs
• Buttocks

To determine if you’re a good candidate for a nerve block, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine specialist reviews your medical history and your condition. They could suggest a nerve block when other treatments, including medications and physical therapy, aren’t effectively relieving your pain.

What Can I Expect During a Nerve Block Procedure?

The medical team at Commonwealth Pain & Spine perform in-office nerve blocks on an outpatient basis. To keep you comfortable, your provider can give you a mild sedative before the injection.

To ensure the injection goes in the right place, your doctor uses fluoroscopy, an X-ray technology that provides real-time images of your inner structures.

Following your injection, you remain in recovery for a period of time to allow the medication to take effect. You’ll need a ride home if you were sedated for the procedure.

Side effects of nerve blocks are minimal, with some risks involving injection site infections, bleeding, and/or soreness.

How Long Do the Effects of a Nerve Block Last?

Everyone responds to nerve block treatments differently. In some cases, you can expect to achieve pain relief that lasts several weeks.

To help you maintain your pain-free results, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine doctor will recommend additional nerve blocks along with other therapies, including medication and/or physical therapy.

If you’re looking for a minimally invasive solution to treating chronic pain, schedule a consultation at Commonwealth Pain & Spine to find out more about the benefits of nerve blocks.