Lumbar Sympathetic Block
The sympathetic nervous system is vital for controlling many involuntary functions in the body and contributes to pain signals that are sent to the brain. Chronic nerve pain that occurs in the legs and feet often uses the sympathetic nervous system to signal pain. There are multiple conditions that can cause pain in the lower extremities. A lumbar sympathetic block injection may be used to diagnose chronic pain conditions and offer relief. DOCS Health in Los Angeles offers lumbar sympathetic block injections as one of our interventional treatments and diagnostic tools.
Chronic pain in the lower legs, ankles and feet can restrict your activities and impact your quality of life. When conservative treatments do not relieve lower extremity pain, injection therapy may be recommended to diagnose the cause of your pain or to offer relief. A lumbar sympathetic block injection is performed in the lower spine to impact the nerves that travel down to the lower legs and feet. This injection can offer immediate pain relief which can help diagnose and treat certain conditions, including:
- Diabetic neuropathy
- CRPS
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Shingles nerve damage
A lumbar sympathetic nerve block injection can be performed using an anesthetic, steroids and other medications to impact the nerve signals and function. The results of the injection can help pinpoint the source of pain and may be used to aid in chronic pain management.
Lower Extremity Pain Relief
Lumbar sympathetic block injections are performed during an outpatient procedure. The patient will lay on their stomach to allow access to the lower lumbar spine region. The sympathetic nerves exit on the front of the spine. To perform the injection, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic, then the needle is guided with x-rays or ultrasound to the desired position near the sympathetic nerves. An anesthetic is delivered to numb the nerves, which may provide immediate pain relief if the condition is within the sympathetic nervous system.
Lumbar sympathetic block injections can be a useful tool for diagnosing and treating chronic pain conditions in the legs or feet. If you have chronic lower extremity pain, contact our pain management experts at DOCS Health in Beverly Hills, CA, to schedule a pain consultation.