Many people suffer from chronic back pain and are seeking an effective, non-surgical solution that brings real relief. Dr. Roy Nini has dedicated his professional career to specializing in non-operative spine and orthopedic treatments. For chronic pain, nerve root blocks can produce a significant level of relief – and a greatly improved quality of life.
What is a Nerve Root Block for Chronic Back Pain?
This advanced pain management treatment involves the injection of a small quantity of a steroid, in combination with a medication to numb a specific nerve as it exits the spinal cord. These injections can be used on any area of the spine where chronic pain exists, from neck to lower back.
A selective nerve root block is an effective pain management treatment for various spinal conditions, including:
- Bulging disc
- Herniated disc
- Muscle spasms
- Pain
- Tingling
- Spinal stenosis
At Full Range Ortho in Los Angeles, we focus on providing our patients with cutting-edge, innovative treatments for musculoskeletal conditions, and working with the individual patient to craft a customized treatment that will bring relief. If you suffer from chronic back pain from a sports injury, spine injury, or condition, we offer a wide range of non-surgical treatment options, including nerve root blocks.
How Does a Nerve Root Block Work?
This treatment addresses targeted nerves as they exit the spinal cord through the tiny holes in the spine, called “foramina.” When the nerve is affected by a condition in the spine, it leads to ongoing pain. When the nerves are experiencing pressure from a bulging disc or other condition, they become inflamed, leading to pain, a numb sensation, or tingling. The injection works to reduce the inflammation and pain at the root of the nerve carrying signals to the brain.
The medications injected into the nerve root work to numb the nerve, and the steroid works to reduce the inflammation leading to ongoing pain or discomfort. This procedure is an effective diagnostic tool that can be employed to identify the nerves that are causing chronic pain.
What to Expect: Nerve Root Block Treatments
This treatment is performed in-office and is minimally invasive. It requires about an hour to complete. To perform a nerve root block, you will be lying down on a treatment table, with the inner structure of your spine revealed visually to Dr. Nini through a specialized medical imaging system so the correct nerve root is targeted. To limit any uncomfortable sensation, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic. The needle providing the medication is then inserted, guided by the medical imaging system, into the correct nerve root. The pain typically subsides within just a few minutes when the correct nerve has been treated.
The initial result is a reduction of pain, as the injection contains an anesthetic. As this wears off, there may be some recurrence of pain, which diminishes as the steroid medication reduces the inflammation in the targeted nerve root. While every patient responds slightly differently, the pain relief experienced with this treatment often lasts for several months before re-treatment is needed.
Trigger Natural Spine Healing With Spinal Decompression In Los Angeles
If you suffer from chronic back pain or have been injured and live with a level of discomfort that is affecting your quality of life, we urge you to seek the least invasive, most effective alternatives before choosing to undergo surgery. For some, surgery may be the only option, but regenerative medicine has made great strides in recent years.
Professional athletes seek out the most effective treatments for musculoskeletal issues – and you can have the treatments used by the top athletes in Los Angeles, here at our Los Angeles clinic. Contact Full Range Spine & Ortho today to schedule a consultation.