Pain Management – Sympathic Blocks

The Sympathetic Nerves are part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls functions like regulating blood flow, temperature of the arms and legs, heart rate, sweating, digestion and many others. Information going between the ANS and central nervous system can be disrupted due to injury and cause pain. A sympathetic nerve block resets this communication system back to its normal state relieving the pain caused by the disruption.

What is involved in a Sympathetic Nerve Block? 

When performing a sympathetic nerve block, a numbing medicine is injected around the sympathetic nerves along the front space of the spinal column. This temporarily blocks the pain and is used to diagnose sympathetically mediated pain.

There are many different types of sympathetic blocks, the most common types being:

• Stellate Ganglion Block

For the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome of the head, neck and upper extremities, sympathetically mediated headaches, post amputation pain, angina, and post herpetic neuralgia

• Celiac Plexus Block

This block is for those suffering from flank pain, upper abdominal pain and
pain from malignancy

• Lumbar Sympathetic Block

Treatment therapy for sympathetic mediated pain of the lower extremities

• Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block

Used in the treatment of sympathetic mediated pelvic pain

• Ganglion Impar Block

This is used to treat sympathetic mediated perineal or pericoccygeal pain including the gentila area, rectal, and coccyx pain