Pain Management Alternatives: Nerve Blocks

 

People suffering from persistent pain need immediate relief. People with chronic pain are those who have pain that lasts more than 12 weeks. To reduce the adverse effects of chronic pain, it is often necessary to use more than standard treatment options.

Pain management

As implied, pain management Office based anesthesia refers to the management of chronic pain. Chronic pain sufferers need to be managed in order to manage their pain. Pain management is used by many people to manage their pain.

Sometimes the pain management methods used for pain relief are not enough. These people may need alternative medical treatment to reduce or eliminate chronic pain.

For people suffering from severe chronic pain, these alternative treatments should be considered a last resort. Nerve blocks are an alternative treatment for chronic pain.

What You Need to Know

This treatment targets the Ganglion or Plexus nerves. These nerves are groups that cause pain to certain parts of the body, such as organs.

Injecting medication to a specific part of the body will 'block' the normal function of those nerves, thereby reducing or eliminating all adverse effects. This is known as a nerve block.

A nerve block, also called a regional blockage or a deliberate interruption of nerve signal, is the intentional interception of nerve signals. This primarily stops pain receptors reading pain signals.

There are many types of nerve blocks. There are two main types of nerve blocks: neurolytic and local anesthetic. Let's have a closer look at each:

Local anesthetic nerve block works on a short -term basis. They can last for as little as one hour or as much as several days. This involves injecting a local anesthetic (often a corticosteroid, or other agents near the nerve) into the affected area.

Local anesthetics such as epinephrine and lidocaine are used to block nerves. Epinephrine is a blood-constricting agent that allows the anesthetic to be absorbed faster. The painkillers opioids and steroids are used to reduce inflammation.

While most local anesthetic nerve block treatments can be done in one session, some people may need multiple sessions for prolonged relief. These nerve blocks can be used to relieve pain in areas of the body that might require surgery.

The temporary degrading of nerve fibers is called neurolytic blocks. These blocks usually depict the temporary degrading of nerve fibers by using 'hot' and 'cold" chemicals to damage the nerves and possibly subside pain. This block can last for several weeks or even months. Some can last an indefinite time.

Neurolysis is the use chemicals to damage a nerve or part of a nerve. While neurotomy involves using physical freezing or heating to destroy nerves, Both procedures cause nerve fibers to be destroyed and temporarily stop pain signal transmission.

A permanent nerve block is usually the result of a neurectomy. This involves removing or cutting off a portion of a nerve. This procedure is often performed last resort for chronic pain sufferers due to its nature.