Anesthesia

What is a nerve block?

10/01/2000

Question:

I am scheduled next week to have a nerve block. Could you please explain to me how this procedure is done?

Answer:

"Nerve block" is a term that refers to the use of local anesthetic medications ("novocaine"-like drugs) to block the transmission of pain in nerves.
You can think of nerve blocks as being in one of two categories. The simplest type of block is where a single nerve is blocked. This is called a "peripheral nerve block", and is done by injecting local anesthetic close to the nerve. For example, dentists typically use a nerve block to anesthetize the teeth for dental surgery.
In other cases, a group of nerves ("plexus") or even part of the spinal cord is blocked ("spinal" or "epidural" anesthesia"). Larger areas of the body can be anesthetized in this way.
"Regional" anesthesia is another term to describe techniques using local anesthetic drugs. Regional anesthesia includes peripheral nerve blockade, spinal anesthesia, and other special techniques that block the pain of a surgical procedure without the patient having to be unconscious (general anesthesia). Skilled anesthesiologists can use regional anesthesia to allow many different types of surgery to be performed.
Finally, nerve blocks are also used to treat various kinds of pain problems. For example, epidural injections of local anesthetic and steroid medication are used to treat back pain.
Unfortunately, without more information about the surgery you are to undergo (or the pain problem that you might have) I cannot provide any details about the nerve block that might be used.

For more information:

Go to the Anesthesia health topic, where you can:

Read articles on this topic
Browse the previously asked questions
Ask your own question.

Response by:

Gareth S Kantor, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
University Hospitals
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University