A nerve block is an injection that provides temporary pain relief. It is also used to diagnose sources of nerve pain.

There are several different types of nerve blocks based on which nerve it’s targeting, such as a genicular nerve block or an occipital nerve block.

While the effects of the injection are instant, nerve blocks are often used for temporary relief. Some people may benefit from one injection, while others may need to administer multiple doses.

There are several types of nerve blocks. A few common ones include:

• Celiac Plexus Nerve Block: Celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves in the upper abdomen that sits behind the pancreas. This block can help relieve pain due to pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
• Epidural Nerve Block: This is an extremely common nerve block that’s used for blocking pain during labor and childbirth. The goal of an epidural block is to provide pain relief in the legs or belly.
• Genicular Nerve Block: Genicular nerves run around knee joints and this block can help with chronic knee pain.
• Occipital Nerve Block: Occipital nerves are a group of nerves in the back of the head. This block can help diagnose and treat occipital headache as well as migraine, which often requires multiple blocks.
• Pudendal Nerve Block: Pudendal nerve is a major nerve in the pelvic region. This block helps to relieve pain in the genital region and rectal pain.
• Trigeminal Nerve Block: These nerves are on both sides of the face. This block can help treat different causes of pain in the face.

Effectiveness

Potential benefits of a nerve block include:

• Temporary or permanent pain relief
• Reduction of inflammation in the affected nerves
• Identify a more specific cause of pain.

Risks

Complications of nerve blocks are rare. And each type of nerve block has different risks and side effects. But in general, risks and complications of nerve blocks include:

• Infection, bleeding and soreness at the injection site.
• Accidental delivery of the medication into your bloodstream