What Is a Nerve Block Injection?

A nerve block injection is a pain-relieving treatment during which your doctor injects an anesthetic into a group of nerves to mitigate acute pain. The anesthetic numbs the pain and relieves inflammation. The treatment works by blocking transmission of pain signals to your brain. The injection can also help your doctor diagnose the source of your pain.

A nerve block injection is highly effective, but only works when administered by a trained professional. In New York City, visit Dr. Ilana Etelzon, who is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehab/Interventional Pain Management. She offers nerve block injections and other advanced minimally invasive procedures to treat pain.

What Types of Nerve Block Injections Are Available?

Pain specialists like Dr. Etelzon use nerve blocks both for interventional pain management and diagnosis purposes. Common types of nerve block injections include:

Sympathetic nerve blocks. For this type of nerve block, your doctor injects a medication to numb a specific irritated nerve to stop it transmitting pain signals to your brain. A sympathetic nerve block treats a variety of chronic pain symptoms, including causalgia, Raynaud’s syndrome, herpes and shingles.
Suprascapular nerve blocks. This nerve block injection occurs near your suprascapular nerve, which influences feeling in your shoulder. Your doctor uses the shoulder injection to treat chronic shoulder pain caused by shoulder arthritis, a rotator cuff tear and frozen shoulder.
Intercostal nerve blocks. Intercostal nerves carry motor and sensory fibers from your thoracic or abdominal wall. Inflammation of these nerves causes severe pain, which can be treated with an intercostal nerve block under a rib.
Occipital nerve blocks. A nerve block injection in the back of your head treats chronic headaches. The injection targets the occipital nerve near the base of your skull in the back of your neck. It relieves painful conditions such as chronic tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches.
Iliohypogastric nerve block. The iliohypogastric nerve supplies feeling to your lower back, pelvis, inner thighs and groin. This nerve block interrupts transmission of pain signals from the area, relieving hip, abdomen or leg pain.
Pudendal nerve block. The pudendal nerve supplies sensation to the pelvic region. Patient with chronic pain in the pelvic region may experience benefit from this procedure. By blocking this nerve, helps interrupt transmission of pain from the pelvic area.
Etelzon administers effective nerve block injections in different parts of your body. Not everyone or every condition is suitable for a nerve block injection, so consult an expert pain management doctor.

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What’s the Procedure for a Nerve Block Injection?

The procedure for a nerve block varies, depending where the targeted nerve is. The general steps in a nerve block injection include:

A consultation with your pain doctor
The injection of the pain-relieving medication using fluoroscopy to guide the needle to the correct location
Post-injection recovery

You can expect some soreness at the injection site, but pain relief is immediate. If you have persistent pain in any part of your body, talk to a pain management expert. Your pain doctor carries out tests to determine if you’re a good candidate for a nerve block. You may instead be a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation for long-term pain relief.

What Are the Benefits of Nerve Block Injection?

Pain management specialists use nerve block injections to treat a number of pain-causing conditions. Benefits of a nerve block treatment include:

A nerve block injection delivers pain relief to conditions in your hips, knee, spine, neck, arms, legs and head.
A nerve block injection targets the source of your pain, effectively masking it.
Fast pain relief. A nerve block injection works fast by disabling pain signals from nerves in a specific body region. The pain relief is immediate and long-lasting.
Non-invasive pain treatment. Treatment through a nerve block injection is a minimally invasive procedure.
Improved quality of life. Causing no downtime, a nerve block helps you overcome chronic pain to lead a fuller life.

At the New York City pain practice of Dr. Etelzon, the pain specialist offers advanced solutions to treat your pain. Contact this pain management doctor today for lasting pain relief.

Patient Testimonials

Patient Doctor Relationships Based on Trust

Dr. Etelzon always makes sure you are comfortable and leave her office with less pain you came in. She gets to the root of the problem. She's friendly. Clean office environment. No long waits, efficient visit. Highly satisfied with my treatment plan.
Jacqueline Rodriguez Patient
Doctor Etelzon is very knowledgeable and really cares about her patients. She will take her time to discuss patients problem, answer questions and use her expertise to help. Dr. Etelzon maintains a friendly , clean , and efficient office environment.
Narik Fuzailov Patient
Helped me with my pain! Great bedside manner. Highly recommend this doctor.
Anonymous Patient
Dr.Etelzon is very knowledgeable and caring and has hands of hold! She was so thorough in her examination and really sees and hears the patient and determines a customized treatment. Thank you, Dr.Etelzon!
Anonymous Patient
Dr. Ilana Etelzon thank you for your help, you have golden hands. Very attentive and knowledgeable doctor. The office staff is friendly and kind, you girls are beautiful.
Valeriy Shek Patient (Google Review)
Dear Doctor Etelzon, Thank you again. I am starting to feel more like myself again...I couldn't say the problem is totally gone, but a big weight has been lifted...Today...I decided to go and do my nails which I did not do for a long time after the incident. I also asked my daughter if we could go to the park. These are things I normally enjoy but forgot about them for a few months now.
Anonymous Patient

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