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Lumbar Sympathetic Block - Image - Header

Lumbar Sympathetic Block

This medical procedure is an injection that desensitizes branches of nerves in the lower back.

What is a lumbar sympathetic block?

It aids physicians to search and address a list of issues in line with these nerves.  Normally, a number of injections are required to address these issues.
Sympathetic nerves traverse both sides of the spinal cord. These nerves are related to a long range of functionalities that you don’t deliberately control. These functions consist of circulation, digestion, and sweating.

How is a lumbar sympathetic block administered?

1. Preparation

The patient lies down on their stomach (or on the side) while getting ready for the procedure. A medication to relax your nerve is given while the skin and tissue of the back are desensitized using a local anesthetic.

2. Inserting the Needle

The doctor pushes a needle and meticulously leads it toward the sympathetic nerves. This is made possible by the use of an X-ray device called a “fluoroscope”. The fluoroscope reveals a video image of the needle’s location. The use of a contrast dye increases the accuracy of locating and validating the location of the needle.

3. Injecting the Medication

Following the careful validation of the needle's exact position, the doctor positions a steroid-anesthetic medication.  This prescription bathes the inflamed nerve roots

which will help ease the pain being experienced by the patient. This procedure also manages and reduces the pain and inflammation of the nerves.  Other benefits can be derived from this procedure depending on your condition.

4. End of Procedure

After the procedure, the needle is withdrawn and the entry point in the skin is cleaned and bandaged. Post-procedure monitoring will be done within a few hours before you are sent home. Most patients after the procedure experience leg numbness and frailty. This is a normal occurrence and can be felt for a few hours. There is also a possibility that you might need additional injections in the future.

Why Choose AZ Pain - Image

Why choose AZ Pain and Spine Institute for your treatment?

We are a team of pain management doctors and specialists. Our physicians have double board certification in their chosen fields and have undergone additional fellowships in pain management. Our professionals have also received advanced medical training in minimally invasive spinal procedures and pain management, including Lumbar Sympathetic Block.