Summary of Procedure: Sciatic Nerve Block
Many people experience a common type of nerve pain, called sciatica. This causes pain to radiate down the buttocks and legs. The sciatic nerve helps control sensations in the lower body. Conditions such as degenerative disc disease, a herniated disc, or injuries to the lower back can cause the sciatic nerve to become compressed, causing sciatica.
A sciatic nerve block helps to alleviate pain from sciatic nerve pain. This is only one of the types of treatments that can be implemented for sciatica pain.
During the procedure, the area is cleaned, and the patient is given a local anesthetic. Although the patient is awake for the entirety of the procedure, he or she will not experience any substantial discomfort. The physician may utilize a fluoroscope and inject dye to help guide the nerve block needle.
Once the needle position is verified, a mixture of anesthetic and steroid is injected into the affected nerves. The physician will apply a bandage to the injection site and the patient will be monitored post-procedure.
Related: Injections for Back Pain in Greenville
What to Expect Post-Procedure of a Sciatic Nerve Block
Once the physician has deemed the patient healthy and ready to return home, the patient is given after-care instructions and discharged. Mild side effects, usually from local anesthesia, are sometimes experienced. These side effects include dizziness, nausea, and soreness around the injection site.
We recommend that patients rest for 24 hours post-nerve block. Patients begin to experience pain relief a few days after the procedure. Because sciatic nerve blocks are considered temporary pain relievers, patients may require the same procedure at some point in the future.
Please notify your physician’s office immediately if you experience any fever, swelling, redness, or sign of an infection.
Are you interested in learning more about sciatic nerve blocks? Call Carolina Spine and Pain Centers to see if this treatment is right for you. We have multiple locations throughout South Carolina. Get in touch by calling us at 864-535-0144 or by filling out an appointment request form on our contact page.
