Nerve block is a treatment used when nothing is working to relieve the patient from the severe pain. As the name suggests, the nerve which causes pain is blocked. Due to the blockage of the nerve, the signal released from the painful nerve will not reach the brain.

This is done by using some special substances which are injected. Commonly used substances are alcohol and phenol which are injected in the area surrounding the nerve or spine. The nerve block technique can provide relief for 6 to 12 months and has to be repeated after 6 to 12 months. When any drugs or medicines are not working to relieve pain, then only nerve block technique is selected. For acute pain, drugs are suggested by the doctor, but if the pain is chronic the nerve block treatment is used.

 Nerve block treatment is used to find out the source of pain, it is used to treat painful conditions, to predict the behavior of the pain if long term treatment is opted. Nerve block also works as anesthesia for small operations. Although nerve block is useful treatment for relieving pain but it has several disadvantages associated with it such as bleeding and inflammation, infection at the injected site.