Are Nerve Blocks The Last Resort For Pain Management?

Persistent chronic pain can make life miserable and those who suffer from it are constantly looking for pain management that will provide immediate relief. Chronic pain lasts as long 12 weeks and can be ongoing. This is why something more than conventional treatments have proven to be a better option for success. It also is a way to avoid the adverse reactions that medication treatments can cause.

Defining Pain Management

As it implies, this is managing chronic pain and maintain control over it. There are many options and techniques in doing this, but not all of them work for everyone. Sometimes, it is necessary for those that suffer from chronic pain to look for alternative treatments, such as nerve blocks.

What There Is To Know About Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are a treatment for pain management which targets the groups of nerves causing pain in specific parts of the human body. These are the ganglion or plexus nerves. Also known as a regional block, it is deliberately interrupting the signals to and from the nerves.

When the medication of nerve block is injected into the nerves of the “problem” area and there it blocks the nerves function. This is usually a short-term basis pain block, lasting from a few hours to a few days. The injection consists of a corticosteroid, epinephrine, lidocaine, and/or an opioid. 

The epinephrine constricts the blood vessels and allows the anesthetic to put an end to diffusing quicker. The steroids assist in reducing inflammation with the opioids acting as painkillers. The majority of the local anesthetic nerve blocks are performed in only one treatment, but there are times that multiple treatments are needed for the patient to have prolonged relief.

The neurolytic blocks will temporarily degrade nerve fibers by applying ‘cold’ or 'hot' chemicals to the affected nerve which will subside the pain. This type of block can last for a few weeks or as long as few months. And for some patients, it lasts indefinitely. Many consider this the best pain management available. 

Neurolysis is using chemicals that degrade that affected nerve and neurotomy is the process of freezing or heating the affected nerves. The pain management they both provide is degrading the nerve fibers and cease any pain signal transmission temporarily.

Neurectomy is considered more of a permanent nerve block more than just a pain management process. It involves cutting into or completely removing an area of the affected nerve. This is more than just pain management because it is a permanent procedure and is the last resort.

Answers, Concerns, Questions

As with any type of procedure, a patient will have concerns and questions. And having a nerve block for pain management therapy is no different.  The first two questions most will ask is “Is this safe? Are there risks?”  And the answer to both is yes. 

Yes, nerve blocks are safe. But just like a general anesthesia, there are some possible risks, however, that risk is low as long as the procedure is performed in a sanitary, sterile environment. The risk of damaging the nerves is less than one percent. If there is any ill-effect to the nerve block, it usually a temporary issue.

Another frequent question is “Will a nerve block is painful?” The doctor that is administering the nerve block will give the patient a sedative to help them relax, which will make the process go smoother and be less painful.

After a nerve block has been administered, a patient may feel some discomfort, soreness in the area. The pain management doctor will provide the patient with instructions to apply cold/hot compresses to the area and may prescribe an antibiotic to offset any possible infections.  The majority of nerve blocks are much like getting a filling – they are common and done every day around the world. 

Similar Articles

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease (Steatosis) is a common condition which denotes the excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity on the stomach, kidney and intestines. The liver is the major metabolic organ which is found in vertebrate animals

According to the World Health organization (WHO), Mental disorders are on the rise in this era, every one in eight individuals is suffering from a mental disorder. There are a variety of mental health disorders

How Oil Pulling helps in Slowing Down Gum Recession?

Nowadays dental problems are so common in day-to-day life we know someone who is suffering from dental problems or sometimes it happens to us only

symptoms of liver disease

Burger, Pizza, Cold-drink, Sweets, Chocolate, Fries, Samosas, I know your mouth is watering after reading this, right?. But do you know how it is destroying our digestive system and especially our liver

How to Get Rid of Piles or Hemorrhoids Naturally?

People are pursuing their objectives and dreams with such savagery that they neglect to do the basic things right. The developing rivalry in working environments and the requirement for steady proficient improvement are what shapes our lives

Ayurvedic Herbs for low platelets - immune thrombocytopenia

Nowadays many people are suffering from thrombocytopenia or ITP. This is basically a condition of low platelet count. After listing the name of this disease, few questions arise in the mind of everyone. What are platelets, what is their significance in the body, what are the possible consequences of reduced platelets?

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that is very common as well as complex affection for the patient physically, mentally, and socially as well. It is a type of neurosensory disorder that shows symptoms like stiffness in the joint, widespread muscle pain, and fatigue

How to Improve Digestion

How long does it take to do the digestion? The digestion period differs from person to person, just as it changes between men and women. The average transit time through the large intestine or colon is about 40 hours, with a significant difference between men and women. In men, it takes 33 hours and 47 in the case of women.

Acupuncture

Acupressure is a technique applied in most Asian countries, also known as acupressure. It is derived from acupuncture and differs from it since without the use of needles it manages to strategically stimulate the energy points through massages performed with the fingers