What is a "nerve block"?

What is a "nerve block"?

Marc Darrow (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Joint Rehabilitation Sports Medical Center, Inc. ) gives expert video advice on: How long does the pain relief last after a nerve block is given? and more...

A nerve block is the use of an analgesic to reduce the amount of peripheral nerve pain. Sometimes, when we use something that's very caustic like a phenol injection (which is an alcohol), that will actually lyse or destroy that nerve. We may also use something like radio frequency which is a heat wave that is injected into the area and heated up to actually kill some of these nerves. Or, we many use what we call cryotherapy or cold therapy to inject something and then freeze the area to disable the nerve fibres that go to these areas.