Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain issues, and while some find relief with conservative treatments like physical therapy and medication, those approaches fall far short for many others. In these instances, nerve blocks (or nerve blockades) offer a safe, effective alternative, using special injections to target the nerves at the root cause of painful symptoms.
Nerve blocks numb the affected nerves transmitting pain signals. Doctors also use them to provide an accurate diagnosis of nerve pain, identifying the nerves responsible for your symptoms. This means that we can customize your treatment to your needs and even your anatomy.
Zaid Malik, MD, and the team at Superior Pain Relief have extensive experience in selecting the right nerve block so you can enjoy optimal relief. Here, we offer a quick rundown of some of the most widely used nerve blocks, including what they treat and how they’re used.
Medial nerves are located in your spinal column near small joints called facet joints that keep your spine flexible. These nerves carry pain signals from your spine to your brain. Facet joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis, but other issues, like spinal degeneration, can cause it, too.
Medial branch nerve blocks target the medial nerves, temporarily numbing the pathways to provide significant pain relief. In addition to treating your painful symptoms, we can also use these blocks to identify nerve issues and map out a more comprehensive therapy plan.
Nerve roots are the first part of the nerves that extend from the spinal canal. Motor roots help you move and sensory roots help you feel sensations. These roots join together to form the longer nerves that extend into your arms and legs and throughout the rest of your body.
If a nerve root becomes damaged, irritated, or compressed, you can experience pain and other symptoms anywhere along the nerve pathway. Selective nerve root blocks and sciatic nerve blocks are designed to target specific pathways associated with radiating or nerve-related pain. Our team can also use them to diagnose the cause of your symptoms.
The sympathetic nervous system includes nerves responsible for many automatic body functions, but it can also play a role in chronic pain. Sympathetic nerve blocks target these pathways, helping manage neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
A stellate ganglion block is a specialized sympathetic block that targets nerves at the base of your neck. We can use it when sympathetic nerve activity causes pain involving your head, neck, chest, or upper extremities.
Some nerve blocks can also target pain pathways involving your head and face. For example, an occipital nerve block targets nerve pain involving the back of the head, and a sphenopalatine ganglion block targets a nerve structure associated with the head and face.
Nerve pain doesn't always involve spinal nerves. Our team offers blocks that target the peripheral nerves as well, helping you find meaningful, long-term relief for a wide variety of nerve-related discomfort.
Nerves are the body’s messengers, allowing you to feel and move — and experience pain. If conservative approaches to pain relief haven’t been helping you feel better, nerve blocks could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone today with Dr. Malik and the team at Superior Pain Relief. We’re located in Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
