Peripheral Nerve Root Block
Anaesthetist and Pain Management Consultant
Sometimes pain can arise from individual nerves which are damaged due to conditions like shingles or after surgery or trauma. This can lead to intense pain in the area supplied by these nerves. At first conservative medications such as pain killers or tablets for depression or epilepsy (which calm the nervous system) may be used. If they are not successful in controlling pain or cause significant side effects a nerve block may be considered
A nerve block relieves pain by interrupting how pain signals are sent to your brain. It is done by injecting an anti inflammatory mix made up of Local anaesthetic and steroid of around a nerve usually under ultrasound guidance.
Nerve blocks may be used for several purposes, such as:
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To determine the source of pain.
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To treat painful conditions.
If you achieve good pain relief from the local anaesthetic and steroid injection, your doctor may considered a procedure called Pulsed radiofrequency for the nerve. This can lead to longer relief than a LA and steroid block.
These following nerve blocks can be done:
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Suprascapular nerve block for pain going across the shoulder into the arms.
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Occipital Nerve block- Pain back of the head going across the scalp
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Ilioinguinal Nerve block/ Genitofemoral nerve blocks - Pain persisting after hernia surgery, groin pain.
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Intercostal nerve blocks - Pain across genitofemoral nerve blocks
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Others