In brief
- A nerve block interrupts pain signals from a specific peripheral nerve, and the relief you get confirms the exact nerve causing your symptoms.
- Example nerves: occipital, intercostal, suprascapular, genicular, ilioinguinal, tibial.
- Anesthetic relief is immediate but temporary, 1 to 8 hours; if a steroid was included, its effect develops over 3 to 7 days.
- Record your percent relief over the next 6 to 12 hours. That record guides your long-term plan.
Understanding your diagnosis
Chronic pain can often be traced to a specific peripheral nerve, one of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. When these nerves become compressed, irritated, or hypersensitized due to injury or surgery, they can send constant pain signals to the brain. This results in localized burning, tingling, or sharp pain in areas like the arms, legs, or chest wall. Example nerve blocks: occipital, intercostal, suprascapular, genicular, ilioinguinal, tibial.
The treatment
A peripheral nerve block is a targeted procedure designed to interrupt pain signals and reduce inflammation. During the procedure, a precise mixture of local anesthetic and, where indicated, a powerful anti-inflammatory (steroid) is delivered directly to the tissue surrounding the affected nerve. This helps reset the nerve's signaling and provides a window of relief for physical recovery.
Our approach
Dr. Pugh uses high-resolution ultrasound to visualize the nerve and surrounding anatomy in real time. This eliminates guesswork, ensuring the medication is placed with sub-millimeter accuracy while maintaining the highest standard of clinical safety.
Before your procedure
Medication holds
Our office will tell you which medications to hold and for how long, following the same blood-thinner guidelines as our other procedures.
Fasting, sedation, and your ride home
- If you are receiving sedation, nothing to eat or drink for six hours before your appointment. Essential morning medications may be taken with a small sip of water only.
- We offer light or deep sedation. The level is decided by the physician and anesthesia team based on the procedure and clinical need.
- Any patient receiving sedation must be accompanied by a responsible adult driver to take them home.
Where to go
Procedures are performed at one of three facilities: our clinic at 1925 Hospital Place, ACOM at 6449 Central Park Blvd, or Hendrick South at 6399 Directors Pkwy, Suite 100. Your appointment paperwork tells you which one. Please arrive early for registration and pre-procedure preparation.
Procedure day
- Performed using real-time ultrasound for maximum precision.
- We use local numbing to ensure the procedure is comfortable.
- The procedure typically lasts about 15 minutes.
- You will be able to go home shortly after the injection is complete.
Benefits
- Targeted pain interruption: blocks signals at the specific source of your discomfort.
- Reduces inflammation: delivers anti-inflammatory steroids directly to the irritated nerve.
- Diagnostic clarity: confirms the exact nerve causing your symptoms to guide future treatment.
Recovery
- Standard resumption: most patients return to regular activity the following day.
- Timeline: while the anesthetic provides immediate temporary relief, the anti-inflammatory effect usually takes 3 to 7 days to fully develop.
- Follow-up: a brief follow-up will be scheduled to assess your progress and determine whether further functional therapies are needed.
Afterward: what to expect
- The diagnostic window. The local anesthetic works quickly. It is critical that you monitor your pain levels over the next 6 to 12 hours while the medication is active.
- Pain diary. Please record the percentage of pain relief you experience during this window. This data is essential for determining your long-term treatment plan.
- The flare. You may feel localized soreness once the anesthetic wears off. Use ice packs (20 minutes on, 20 off) and resume baseline medications, including NSAIDs and aspirin, immediately.
- Blood glucose. If a steroid was included, expect a temporary rise in blood glucose that usually resolves within a few days. Diabetic patients should monitor their sugar levels closely for 48 to 72 hours after the procedure.
Activity
Wound care
Your procedure in one paragraph
You have undergone a peripheral nerve block, a targeted diagnostic test designed to temporarily interrupt pain signaling from a specific nerve or nerve cluster outside your brain and spinal cord. We have delivered a concentrated dose of local anesthetic directly around the target nerve to help pinpoint the exact source of your discomfort, which allows us to determine appropriate long-term treatment options. The relief will only be temporary, 1 to 8 hours, depending on which anesthetic was used.
Follow-up schedule
- 1
1 week
Formal functional assessment of the relief the block gave.
Call us right away if you notice
- New or worsening leg weakness, numbness, or foot drop
- Sudden loss of bowel or bladder control
- Fever above 101.5°F, chills, or drainage at the site
- A severe headache that worsens when sitting or standing
This guide is the same information as the printed handout from Abilene Pain. It is general information and does not replace the instructions your care team gives you at your visit. Your care team: Nicolas Pugh, MD · Adrianne Anders, NP · Ted Chaka, PA.