Diagnostic & Therapeutic
Nerve Blocks
Peripheral Nerve Blocks
Peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord) transmit sensation and motion. Use of either steroids (to decrease inflammation) or local anesthetic can alleviate pain in these nerves.
Ilioinguinal or Genitofemoral Nerve Block: The ilioinguinal/genitofemoral nerve is wrapped around the rim of the pelvis and runs to the groin (inguinal) and pubic areas. Damage most often arises from cuts or scars due to surgery, and nerve blocks are an effective treatment.
Blocking other nerves may provide relief of pain arising in that nerve.
Lumbar Sympathetic Block
The lumbar sympathetic nerves extend from the first to the fifth lumbar vertebrae. The lumbar sympathetic nerves run down either side of the spinal column. These nerves supply sensation of the lower extremites.
Indications for having a lumbar sympathetic block include: Causalgia or other sympathetic dystrophy, pain due to peripheral vascular disease, phantom limb pain, acute herpes zoster, post herpetic neuralgia.
Celiac Plexus Nerve Blocks
The celiac plexus is located on both sides of the aorta at approximately the level of the first lumbar vertebra of your spine. Organs supplied with sensation from the celiac plexus include the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and the gut as far as the transverse colon.Indications for having a celiac plexus block include: Acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, Crohn’s disease, surgery of the upper abdomen, and acute or chronic, non-surgical, abdominal pain.
Brachial Plexus Blocks
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that control the arm and shoulder. There are four approaches for this block, depending on which part of the arm has the pain. These are axillary (underneath the arm), interscalene (side of the neck where the neck meets the shoulder), supraclavicular (above the clavicle, shoulder base), and infraclavicular (below the clavicle, shoulder bone).