Selective Nerve Root Block

A selective nerve root block is a spinal injection which can be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the treatment of severe back and neck pain. This type of spinal injection typically includes a mix of anesthetic and steroidal medications, which are injected into or near a pinched spinal nerve root believed to be causing pain and inflammation. Your doctor may administer a nerve root block to determine the exact location of the compressed nerve. If pain dissipates after an injection, it can be assumed that the medication entered the correct pinched nerve and your doctor can more effectively treat the spinal condition with further injections or other treatments. These injections may be used to treat a variety of spinal conditions, including:

• Sciatica
• Bulging disc
• Herniated disc
• Bone spurs
• Spinal stenosis
• And more

Risks

Although a selective nerve root block injection is considered a relatively safe procedure, there are some rare risks associated with the process, including infection, spinal bleeding, allergic reaction, and possible spinal cord or nerve damage.

Laser Spine Institute

A selective nerve root block injection will generally provide pain relief for several weeks to months. For some people, however, the symptoms associated with back and neck conditions may not subside after several injections. Your doctor may then ask you to consider spinal surgery. Before consenting to any procedure, you should fully research and understand your options in order to choose the best treatment for you. Laser Spine Institute offers a number of minimally invasive procedures that have helped tens of thousands of people find relief from back and neck pain. Unlike highly invasive open back or neck surgeries, our use of advanced endoscopic techniques allows most of our patients to get back on their feet within an hour of surgery. For more information, contact Laser Spine Institute.