Treatment guide
Nerve Blocks for Chronic Pain
A precisely placed injection used to help identify a pain source or provide relief in selected nerve, joint, headache and cancer-pain conditions.
Who may be considered
- Pain thought to arise from a specific nerve or joint
- Selected headache or facial-pain conditions
- Pain where a diagnostic block may guide the next decision
Assessment comes first
The type of block depends on the history, examination and available reports. The doctor explains whether the aim is diagnosis, short-term relief or part of a longer treatment plan.
What happens
Local anaesthetic, sometimes with another medication, is placed near the selected nerve using ultrasound or X-ray guidance where appropriate.
What it cannot promise
Relief can be temporary or incomplete. A positive response may guide another treatment, but it does not by itself prove that every symptom comes from that nerve.
Possible risks
- • Temporary numbness or weakness
- • Bruising or bleeding
- • Infection
- • Allergic reaction or nerve injury, which is uncommon
Recovery
Observation and discharge advice depend on the nerve treated. Some blocks require an escort and temporary limits on driving or activity.
Alternatives
- • Medication review
- • Physiotherapy
- • Psychological support for persistent pain
- • Other image-guided or surgical options where suitable
When to seek urgent help
Sudden weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, chest pain, severe pain after an injury, fever with worsening pain, or a rapidly changing condition needs urgent medical assessment. Trident Pain Clinics is not an emergency service.