What are Nerve Blocks?
The injection of steroids and anesthesia into the spine is called a nerve block. It’s used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for pain. Nerve blocks are commonly used to help physicians determine the exact location of the damaged nerve as well as evaluate if the nerve block was successful in relieving pain at the injection location.
Most Common Nerve Root Pain Symptoms
Common symptoms that indicate nerve root pain are:
- Extreme numbness or tingling in the legs or arms
- Unexplainable weakness in certain parts of the body
- Intense pain in the neck or back
Most Common Causes of Nerve Root Pain
Pain in the nerve root is often caused by another condition that was compressed or damaged. This alerts pain signals along the nerve paths as they run throughout the body.
Common conditions associated with nerve root pain are:
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylolysis
- Bone spurs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Bulging disc
- Herniated disc
- Spinal injuries
Nerve blocks are a common, low-risk procedure that’s easily administered for pain management purposes. These help our physician locate what the underlying issue is as well as alleviates the pain you’re experiencing.
When other diagnostic tools such as an MRI or CT scans aren’t helpful, nerve blocks are typically considered. If you’ve exhausted your conservative treatment options, nerve blocks may be the best next step for you.