The Use Of Nerve Root Block In Pain Management

A nerve root block is an injection which contains a combination of local anesthetics, the epinephrine (also known as adrenalin) hormone, a steroid and a sedative (usually opioid). The process of using a nerve root block involves injecting it into the area where the spinal nerve ends. This is generally a image-guided technique of pain management and is of great help during childbirth. Let us discuss the function of each component of the nerve root block injection:

• The anesthetic:
Anesthetics help in numbing body parts. This, in turn, helps in reducing pain to a great extent. The most common anesthetics used for the injection are Lidocain and Novocain.
• The hormone:
Use of epinephrine leads to vasodialation, which is the constriction of blood vessels. This helps in delaying the spread of anesthetics.
• The steroid:
Steroids help in reducing inflammation which is caused due to pain. Corticosteroids are the most common class of steroid hormones used in this pain management procedure.
• The sedative:
Also known as psychoactive chemicals, sedatives are very popular pain killers. In the nerve root block technique, the sedative, opioid is generally used. It is one of the earliest known drugs and its bioactivity resembles morphines to a great extent.

Pain Management

Preparing for the process of nerve root block:

Before you undergo the treatment procedure, your physician will ask you to not intake any food after midnight. But those who are undergoing medication for other problems, may take their medicines with a little amount of water. For diabetics, checking the blood sugar level is recommended prior to undergoing the treatment process. Also, if you are already having an allergic reaction or skin infection, it is better to let your doctor know about your medical condition.

After the treatment is over:

Sometimes just one shot of the injection is enough to combat pain. But, sometimes, the process needs to be repeated all over again. Your pain may subside just after the first dosage. But, sometimes steroids take a long time to show their effect. A slight tenderness of the operated area may persist. This can be taken care of by applying ice packs over these areas.

The risk factors and side effects associated:

The prime goal of nerve root block injection procedure is to reduce pain. But, a lot of problems may arise after the completion of the treatment procedure. Following are the risk factors and side effects related to this process –

• Internal bleeding
• Microbial infection
• Injury to the nervous system
• Allergy
• Continual numbness of the operated part
• Weakness
• Localized pain

If these problems persist for a very long time, it is always advisable to contact your physician or a pain management clinic.

Sarasota Interventional Radiology: The abode of Specialty Doctor of Sarasota

Interventional radiology is a sub-category of radiology, in which, diagnosis and treatment of diseases is carried out using procedures that ensure least possible invasion into organs and organ systems. The surgeries are usually image-guided, which enable surgeons to know the exact location of problem areas and provide accurate treatment of the same. Now, a new omen has come up in the field of medicine and health care, specially in the city of Sarasota, Florida for the practitioners. A specialty doctor of Sarasota, as the title suggests, is one who is a senior grade specialist in a certain area. Such doctors take care of patients beeline, and are more skilled and experienced than their colleagues. The Sarasota Interventional Radiology (SIR), founded in the year 2003, is a home to many such practitioners.

An insight into Interventional Radiology:
The first and foremost idea of using Interventional Radiology is to minimize the suffering of patients and also the infection risks associated with major surgeries. The process also reduces patients' duration of stay in hospitals. Interventional radiologists use techniques like X-rays, ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a lot of other approaches to yield images of problem areas of the living body. Taking these images as guides, narrow tubes, known as catheters, and needles are the used to invade these areas minimally. This is very effective and better in comparison to the large lacerations and dissections that take a lot of time to heal.

Specialty Doctor Of  Sarasota

Inside Sarasota Interventional Radiology:

The team of specialty doctor of Sarasota practice exclusively in these areas:

• Pain Management / back procedures:The procedures carried out in this area include Epidural Steroid Injection, Nerve Root Block, Facet Block, RF Nerve Destruction, Trigger Point Injection, SINERGY (Cool RFA), Plasma Disc Decompression and Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty.
• Joint, ligament and tendon procedures:The treatment procedures include the use of anesthetic or steroid injections, Synvisc injections and autologous tissue grafting.
• Headache treatment:Treatment for headaches include the use of injections like Occipital Nerve Block and Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block.
• Treatment of cancer:The types of cancer treated at SIR are lung cancers, kidney cancers, liver cancers, breast cancers and bone cancers. The procedures include biopsies, Paracentesis and Thoracentesis, port placement removals, pleurx catheter placement, Radiofrequency Ablation, Chemo Embolization and Selective Internal Radiation Therapy or SIRT.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) and Genitourinary (GU) procedures:The GI tract includes the mouth, esophagus, liver, stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, small intestine and the large intestine, along with the rectum and the anus. The GU tract, on the other hand, include the urinary organs like kidney, uterus, urethra, urinary bladder and adrenal glands, and the reproductive organs. Disorders related to these areas of the body are also treated by the diligent team of specialty doctor of Sarasota using procedures like Biliary Drain, Liver Fibroscan, Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (PTC) and Nephrostomy Tube Placement.