727-264-8865 info@trinitypaincenter.com
Service

Nerve Blocks

The sympathetic nerves are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls the body's functions that we don't need to think about, such as blood pressure, digestion and heart rate. They also help us respond to "fight or flight" situations. Sympathetic nerves do not normally send pain messages to the brain but may become "switched on" for an unknown cause or due to a condition such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).

A sympathetic nerve block involves injecting local anesthetic around a junction or "crossroads" where many nerves meet. The goal is to decrease or eliminate pain by reducing the pain signals sent to the brain.

Your doctor might suggest a nerve block if other treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medicines, rest and physiotherapy, were unsuccessful. Your doctor may also use nerve blocks as a diagnostic tool to determine whether your pain is actually coming from the sympathetic nervous system.

If you experience pain relief after a nerve block, your doctor may recommend additional nerve blocks or other forms of pain therapy to target the sympathetic nerves.