Nerve Blocks

A nerve root block is an injection of anesthesia and steroids into or near a nerve in the spine as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for pain. Blocks are often used to help physicians figure out exactly where damaged nerves are located by evaluating the effectiveness of relief experienced at the injection location. If the pain is relieved after a particular nerve site is injected, it’s safe to assume that nerve was the one causing the problem. Patients must be currently experiencing pain at the injection location prior to the procedure for accurate evaluation, but the patient should benefit from pain relief quickly after the procedure is completed.