What Is Nerve Blocks?
A nerve block is an injection of local anesthetic, steroid, or other medication directly adjacent to a specific nerve or nerve cluster to block pain transmission. Nerve blocks serve two primary purposes: diagnostic (confirming which nerve or structure is generating pain) and therapeutic (providing direct pain relief, sometimes lasting weeks to months). Dr. Qureshi performs all nerve blocks under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance for precise, accurate placement.
Common types performed at our Katy practice include medial branch blocks (for facet joint diagnosis), selective nerve root blocks, sympathetic nerve blocks, and occipital nerve blocks for headaches.
Conditions Treated
- Chronic neck, back, and lower extremity pain
- Facet joint pain (confirmed or suspected)
- Occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headaches
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles pain)
- Painful diabetic neuropathy
- Cancer-related pain
- Pre-procedure diagnostic evaluation
How It Works
The anesthetic solution is injected precisely alongside the target nerve using fluoroscopic (X-ray) or ultrasound guidance. The medication blocks sodium channels in the nerve membrane, preventing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. For diagnostic blocks, the response guides treatment planning — a positive block confirms the nerve or structure as a pain generator and may indicate candidacy for radiofrequency ablation or other definitive treatment.
Benefits
- Rapid onset of pain relief (often within minutes for diagnostic blocks)
- Minimal recovery time — most patients go home within 30 minutes
- Both diagnostic value and therapeutic benefit in a single procedure
- Can spare patients from unnecessary surgery by confirming or ruling out pain sources
- Excellent safety profile with fluoroscopic guidance
- Covered by most major insurance plans when medically indicated
Risks & Side Effects
- Temporary soreness at injection site (1–2 days)
- Temporary numbness or weakness in the treated area (resolves within hours)
- Small risk of bleeding or infection (minimized with sterile technique)
- Rare: allergic reaction to anesthetic or contrast material