Selective Nerve Root Blocks

Selective nerve root blocks is similar to epidural injections, as the preparation and approach is identical. Epidural refers to the space outside the dura or covering of the spinal cord and inside the spinal canal, running the length of the spinal cord. This specific type of epidural injection can be both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. A small quantity of a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, and a steroid are injected at the nerve root which is suspected to be involved. The patient logs any changes in his/her pain levels at different intervals after the procedure. A physical examination and this log allow the physician to observe the response. Because the dose is so small, only one nerve root is affected by the numbing agent, which helps to diagnose which nerve is causing pain, and can also help relieve pain and inflammation.