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.