Nerve Blocks
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SamWell Institute for Pain Management
Pain Management Specialist located in Colonia, NJ, Livingston, NJ & Englewood, NJ
Neurological problems can cause significant pain, making it difficult to focus on anything else. Individuals living in and around Colonia, Englewood and Livingston, New Jersey, can seek relief with Jay Shah, MD, and the team at SamWell Institute for Pain Management, who are experts in diagnosing and treating nerve pain using nerve blocks. To schedule an appointment, call the office nearest you, or request an appointment online today.
Nerve Blocks Q & A
What are nerve blocks?
Your nerves serve as a communications pathway between your body and brain. They also transmit sensory data from all parts of your body to your brain, and orders from your brain to your muscle tissue.
When something goes wrong with those transmissions or if they re-wire incorrectly after injury/trauma,, serious pain can result. Nerve blocks are injections that interrupt pain signals, providing immediate pain relief.
Why would I need a nerve block?
One common use of nerve blocks is to diagnose pain. When the source of pain is unclear, Dr. Shah may perform a series of nerve blocks in the area of focus, so that he can then offer long-term treatment option with the confidence of a definitive diagnosis.
When anesthetic medication is injected near nerve tissue, any pain signals being communicated through those nerve fibers will immediately cease, and essentially hit the “reset” button the nerve immediately relieving pain.
This allows Dr. Shah to identify the source of your nerve pain. The information gleaned during diagnostic nerve injections can guide your treatment path for long-term and more advanced interventional options.
Nerve injections can also play a role in treating pain. While the injections won’t alter the source of pain, they can provide relief that lasts long enough to give your body a chance to repair existing damage. That relief can even help some people avoid surgery.
What happens during nerve block injections?
Dr. Shah directs you in positioning yourself on the exam table, and you need to maintain that position throughout the procedure. Next, after comfortably anesthetizing the skin with local aneshtesia, a small needle injects special contrast material into the area of focus.
This allows Dr. Shah to use special imaging equipment to “see” the position of the treatment needle, ensuring that medication is delivered to the intended area of nerve tissue. An external screen is used to guide the needle’s progress.
Once the numbing medication is injected, you’re asked to report any changes in sensation. Your active participation is a critical part of the process.
If you have questions or concerns about the role that nerve blocks might play in your diagnostic or treatment journey, call SamWell Institute for Pain Management, or request an appointment online today.