Selective Nerve Root Block

Medically reviewed by Joshua L. Hare, DO, Founder & Medical Director

Conditions Treated

Cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, nerve root compression from herniated disc or stenosis, pre-surgical diagnostic evaluation

How It Works

Under fluoroscopic guidance, the physician places a needle adjacent to the targeted nerve root at the neural foramen. Contrast dye confirms position before injecting anesthetic and steroid.

What to Expect

15-20 minute procedure. Temporary numbness in the nerve distribution. Keep a pain diary to document your response — in the research literature, a clearly positive result is defined as at least 50% pain relief[1] while the anesthetic is active.

Recovery

Resume light activities the same day. Full benefit from steroid within 1-2 weeks.

Duration of Relief

Weeks to months therapeutically. Diagnostic information guides further treatment decisions. The systematic-review literature grades the evidence for nerve root blocks as a stand-alone diagnostic test as limited,[1] and describes their use in the preoperative evaluation of patients with negative or inconclusive imaging studies[1] — which is why your response is read alongside imaging and examination, never in place of them.

References

Clinical sources for this page.

1. Datta S, Manchikanti L, Falco FJ, et al. Diagnostic utility of selective nerve root blocks in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radicular pain: systematic review and update of current evidence. Pain Physician. 2013;16(2 Suppl):SE97–SE124. Back to first citation ↑