WHAT ARE SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCKS?
Your sympathetic nerves are a collection of nerves that play a role in bodily functions like sweating, heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. A sympathetic nerve block is a procedure that tests if your sympathetic nerves are transmitting pain signals to other parts of your body and also provides pain relief by blocking those signals.
The practice offers the following sympathetic nerve block procedures:
LUMBAR NERVE BLOCK
A lumbar nerve block determines whether nerves along the front side of your spinal column are causing painful symptoms like burning or swelling skin. If the doctor determines your lumbar nerves are the culprit, a lumbar nerve block can provide long-lasting relief.
CELIAC PLEXUS BLOCK
A celiac plexus nerve block determines if your celiac plexus of nerves, located in your abdomen, is sending pain signals from your gut or stomach organ tissues back to your spinal cord and brain. Regular celiac plexus blocks can relieve chronic pain.
STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK
Your stellate ganglion nerves are present in your neck, on either side of your voice box. These nerves can transmit pain signals to your face and neck manifesting in chronic pain conditions like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and shingles. A steady dose of nerve blocks can mitigate symptoms.
WHO NEEDS A SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCK?
Sufferers of chronic pain might benefit from a sympathetic nerve block. If you have one of the following conditions, your lingering pain symptoms might be related to your sympathetic nervous system:
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic stomach pain
- Excessive sweating
- Shingles
Since a sympathetic nerve block procedure literally “blocks” pain signals by numbing the targeted nerve via injection, it can help reduce your pain immensely.
HOW DOES A SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCK PROCEDURE WORK?
After the doctor discusses your symptoms with you, he will determine which nerve block will be best to use.
During the procedure, the doctor will apply a local anesthetic to numb the injection area. The physician administers a numbing agent directly into the targeted nerves using X-ray guidance to ensure precision, which prevents it from sending pain signals.
If the block produces pain relieving results, the doctor recommends regular nerve blocks for long-lasting relief. It’s a straightforward, safe procedure and typically requires no downtime.
