Diagnostic Nerve Block Injections Specialist in Plano, TX

Nerve blocks are a type of medication that is used to temporarily block pain signals in the body. They are most commonly used in the lower back to numb the area around the spinal nerve, reducing pain and inflammation. Nerve blocks can also be used to disrupt painful nerve signals in other parts of the body, such as the arms and legs. They are often used together with other medications to provide additional pain relief, but may also be used on their own.

Nerve blocks work by injecting anesthetic or steroid medications into the nerves, which causes them to temporarily stop sending pain signals to the brain. They are most commonly used in the short term to provide immediate pain relief but are often used in conjunction with other long-term pain management methods such as physical therapy, exercise, and lifestyle changes.

There are different kinds of nerve blocks used for various purposes, the two most common being diagnostic nerve blocks and therapeutic nerve blocks.

• Therapeutic Nerve Blocks — Therapeutic nerve blocks are used to treat painful conditions, including arthritis. These nerve blocks contain a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, that can be used to control acute pain and provide short-term relief.

• Diagnostic Nerve Blocks — Diagnostic nerve blocks are used to determine sources of pain and typically contain an anesthetic that has a predetermined duration of relief.

• Prognostic Nerve Blocks — Prognostic nerve blocks predict the outcomes of a treatment and are commonly used to determine if more permanent treatments (such as surgery or a more invasive procedure) would be successful in relieving pain.

• Preemptive Nerve Blocks — Preemptive nerve blocks are meant to prevent subsequent pain from a procedure and minimize sequelae, such as phantom limb pain.

The benefits of nerve blocks include:

• Can Manage Different Types of Pain — Nerve blocks are used to manage several different kinds of pain, including chronic pain, acute pain, post-surgical pain, and nerve pain.

• Can Provide Immediate Relief — The local anesthetic used in nerve blocks can ease pain nearly instantly.

• Can Achieve Long-Term Relief — Because some injections reduce irritation on the nerves, allowing them time to properly heal, nerve blocks can also offer longer-term relief.

• Improves Function in Day-To-Day Life — Nerve blocks can help people function better in their daily lives, allowing them to exercise, go to work, and do the things they love the most without restrictions from pain.

Nerve blocks are used to treat:

• Labor and delivery pain
• Pain after surgery
• Cancer-related pain
• Arthritis pain
• Severe facial pain, like trigeminal neuralgia
• Low back pain
• Headaches, including migraines and occipital neuralgia
• Chronic regional pain syndrome, or CRPS

Although each patient responds to the treatment differently, pain relief can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Some patients may achieve adequate relief from a single injection, while others may need multiple nerve block treatments in order to attain the best results.

Call us today to book an appointment for diagnostic nerve blocks, or visit our clinic conveniently located in Plano, TX. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Plano TX, McKinney TX, Richardson TX, Frisco TX, Allen TX, Addison TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND!