If you need surgery, you might have a peripheral nerve block to numb the surgical area without putting you to sleep (general anesthesia). At Pain Consultants of Atlanta, with four offices located in Atlanta, Fayetteville, Stockbridge and Newnan, Georgia, the practice has four convenient locations where you can get the best in interventional pain management, from injections to surgery. Schedule your appointment online or call the nearest office today.
A peripheral nerve block is an anesthetic injection that numbs a particular area of the body. The injection deadens sensation, with the effects limited to a certain part of the peripheral nervous system that includes all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
Most often, peripheral nerve blocks are used during surgery on areas such as:
The Pain Consultants of Atlanta team often administers peripheral nerve blocks before minimally invasive outpatient procedures.
Peripheral nerve blocks allow surgeons to perform complex procedures without general anesthesia. While general anesthesia puts you to sleep, a peripheral nerve block allows you to remain awake during the procedure. Peripheral nerve blocks are classified as regional anesthesia.
General anesthesia carries higher risks and commonly causes side effects like nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. With peripheral nerve blocks, you avoid the increased risk and skip the unpleasant side effects.
Another benefit of peripheral nerve blocks during surgery is that they can offer long-lasting pain control even after your procedure. This type of nerve block often provides sustained pain relief for far longer than general and local anesthesia.
This ultimately means you’ll need less oral narcotics — and less habit-forming medications with major side effects is unquestionably a good thing.
The peripheral nerve block causes some minor discomfort, but that fades quickly. You’ll usually receive sedating medication, which helps you relax during the surgery.
The Pain Consultants of Atlanta team gives you detailed preoperative instructions before surgery. If you’re having sedation, you must fast before your procedure.
Depending on your current medications, you might also need to temporarily skip a dose or two (with your prescribing doctor’s permission) before or on the day of your surgery.
At Pain Consultants of Atlanta, the team of elite interventional pain specialists is heavily invested in creating the best, safest, and most successful experiences for every patient that comes through their doors. To learn more about the pain management process and what it can do for you, call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.