There are many different nerves that can signal pain in the lower back, buttocks and legs from a wide assortment of spine conditions. Diagnosing and treating back pain is complicated, as it can be difficult to identify the source of pain. Nerve block injections are an effective option for relieving back pain once the source of pain and nerves are identified. One option for relieving low back and buttock pain is a cluneal nerve block injection, available at DOCS Health in Los Angeles, CA.

Cluneal nerves are located in the lowest level of the lumbar spine and in the upper buttock region. While there are many lumbar spine conditions that can cause pain, cluneal nerve entrapment is slightly different. Many lumbar spine pain conditions affect the medial and sciatic nerves, causing back and radiating leg pain. The cluneal nerves can primarily cause pain in the low area in the back and the upper buttocks, usually more intense when sitting.

Cluneal entrapment is often underdiagnosed by many physicians since it is not as common as many other spinal pain conditions. However, once diagnosed, it can be relieved with a minimally-invasive cluneal nerve block injection.

Buttock Pain Relief

If you suffer from cluneal nerve entrapment that causes low back and buttock pain, a nerve block injection may give you relief. This procedure can be performed in less than an hour and requires very little downtime. To perform the injection, we use a fluoroscope to guide the needle to the exact area within the spine. A special dye is injected into the area to clearly see the needle and medication. Our pain specialist will ensure the needle delivers an anesthetic and steroid medication directly to the cluneal nerves. For many patients, the relief from their pain is almost immediate. The anesthetic numbs the entrapped cluneal nerves, and the steroid provides a nerve signal block for months to come.

If you have chronic low back or buttock pain, a cluneal nerve block injection may give you pain relief. To learn more about our interventional pain treatments, contact us at DOCS Health in Beverly Hills, CA, to schedule your pain management consultation.