Peripheral Nerve Block in Charlotte
A peripheral nerve block is a pain management treatment that serves as regional anesthesia. It is used to help manage the pain in certain areas of the body by preventing the nerves from sending pain signals to the central nervous system. Its numbing effect is longer than most local anesthetics.Â
The anesthetic is injected near a nerve or branch of nerves to alleviate pain or identify if it is the source of pain. Once the pain subsides after a nerve block procedure, your doctor will proceed with other therapies to help improve your condition permanently or in the long term. In most cases, it is paired with physical therapy to achieve the best results.Â
A peripheral nerve block can help manage the pain for chronic pain sufferers and during surgical procedures in several parts of the body such as the hand, wrist, elbow, hip, and foot. In some cases, it is also used in the face. A peripheral nerve block can be a pain-relief solution or a supporting treatment to another anesthetic treatment.Â
During a peripheral nerve block treatment, doctors locate the nerve or branch of nerves to be injected. When the needle touches the nerve or gets near it, patients may feel an electrical sensation where the nerve runs through the affected part. So, in most cases, it is accompanied by a sedative to help you feel more relaxed and reduce the pain.Â
Every patient has different pain tolerance, so the approach of pain specialists is always individualized. There may be some discomfort after the treatment, which is a normal reaction to the anesthetic. In some cases, steroids are also injected for nerve blocks which takes several days to be in full effect.Â
The duration of the nerve block depends on the procedure, the severity of pain of the patient, and the type and volume of anesthetic used, but it usually ranges from 6 hours to 3 days. The benefits of peripheral nerve blocks include:
- Fewer side effects compared to other pain management approaches
- Around 96% success rate in managing post-surgical pain in certain areas of the body
- Contributes to faster recovery of patients