Nerve Blocks for Neuropathy Pain: What to Expect

The nerves in your body allow you to feel both pleasure and pain – but when it's mostly pain you're feeling, it's a problem. Neuropathy is a common problem that leads to nerve damage in the body, especially in the legs and feet.

Living with neuropathy is difficult, especially if it's new and you don't know what's going on with your body. Luckily, a nerve block helps you understand where nerve pain is coming from and provides pain relief at the same time.

Dr. Schachi Patel and her team offer pain management strategies at Delmarva Pain and Spine Center, including nerve blocks. Dr. Patel is an experienced anesthesiologist who gets to the bottom of nerve pain through various treatments and procedures.

Understanding neuropathy

Your nerves split into your central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system, and all the other nerves in the body. The job of the nerves is to relay electrical impulses to your brain so you can feel sensations and move muscles.

The peripheral nervous system is the furthest nerve from the spinal cord and brain. These nerves often show signs of damage quickly, leading to various signs and symptoms such as:

• Muscle weakness
• Uncontrolled muscle movements
• Loss of muscle mass
• Numbness and tingling
• Pain in the legs and arms
• Clumsiness or balance problems
• Changes in how you sweat
• Blood pressure changes
• Sexual dysfunction

The symptoms of neuropathy are either sensory, motor, or autonomic and vary in severity. Many neuropathy causes include chronic medical conditions, injuries, and genetics.

The facts on nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are therapeutic injections Dr. Patel directs at specific nerves to provide temporary pain relief. The infusion may include anesthetic medication, anti-inflammatory medication, or both.

The effects of nerve blocks are fast, with almost immediate relief after your injection. However, the results are sometimes short-lived, and you may require multiple injections for optimal relief.

There are different types of nerve blocks that we use. Therapeutic nerve blocks help with chronic and acute pain. They reduce inflammation, which allows the nerves to heal.

Dr. Patel uses diagnostic nerve blocks to determine where your pain originates. She injects anesthetic medication into a group of nerves. If you get relief, she decides that's where the pain is coming from.

What to expect during a nerve block

You don't need to do much to prepare for a nerve block unless Dr. Patel suggests sedation. You'll need to arrange a ride to and from the procedure if you have sedation.

During the procedure, we position you on the exam table where Dr. Patel can easily access the area she's working on. We start an IV if you require sedation to help keep you calm during the procedure.

Dr. Patel then cleanses the skin with an antiseptic and injects an anesthetic medication into the skin to make the procedure comfortable. Although the anesthetic works quickly, you may still feel a small stick during the nerve block.

She then uses specialized live X-ray imaging to find the exact spot to inject the nerve block. She uses the image to get the medications close to the affected nerve.

You'll rest for a little while as the drugs take effect to ensure you don't have any adverse reactions. After you've recovered, you can go home to rest.

Recovering after a nerve block

Most people experience immediate relief after a nerve block. Still, the injection area may be sore for a day or two. Nerve blocks vary from person to person, sometimes providing years of relief.

Some people only get a few weeks to months of relief until they require another nerve block. The length of time you have pain relief depends on the severity of the problem and the affected nerves.

Unfortunately, some people don't get any pain relief, which can be frustrating. However, Dr. Patel offers other treatment methods to bring you the relief you've been searching for if a nerve block doesn't work.

There are a few side effects or complications to keep an eye out for during recovery. Infection and bleeding at the injection site are common complications to look for after the procedure.

To find out more about nerve blocks, don't hesitate to call our office in Newark, Delaware, today at 302-355-0900 or request a consultation on the website.