Nerve Root Block in Oklahoma City

Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB) is a nerve block injection that helps to diagnose and treat an inflamed spinal nerve caused by pressure on the nerve. This injection has a steroid called Cortisone, which gets injected around the nerve root of the spinal column. It helps to block specific fibers (i.e., C fibers), which are located within the nerve, resulting in less pain being transmitted to the brain. Additionally, it further helps to decrease the permeability of nerve fibers to receive blood due to decreased pain transmission.

Some of the common and extreme side effects of a nerve root block are–

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nerve damage or injury
• Allergic reactions
• Puncture of the ‘sack’, which contains spinal fluid

A nerve root block injection is a mixture of local anesthetic and a steroid named Hydrocortisone, which gets injected when a particular nerve in the lower back is inflamed due to irritation from a disc prolapse or narrowing of the spinal canal. After injection, the patient can feel temporary weakness or numbness of the leg within 10 minutes, and it lasts for 2 to 3 hours until the anesthetic wears off. 

Since nerve root blocks are a temporary solution for pain management, they last just for a few days to 3 months. It depends on how many series of nerve root block injections were administered for your case. Nerve root blocks produce long-lasting pain relief for mild or moderate conditions, and the effect of it is different for every patient.

On average, a nerve root block costs $1,209 for a single treatment in Oklahoma. This price doesn’t include anesthesia, imaging, and other doctor visit fees that are required before nerve root block injection. Even though you might find it expensive, nerve root block is very successful, i.e., 76% to 88%, and provides significant relief of pain.

You will feel some numbness and temporary weakness, like not being able to walk properly. However, it will last just several hours, so even though you can carry out daily activities right away, we recommend taking rest for 24 to 48 hours (i.e., 1 to 2 days). Also, avoid strenuous activities. The reason why we ask our patients to do this is that the area that was injected will get numb, and doing overwork will cause you to damage those areas without even realizing it. If you feel pain, then take extra pain relief medication as directed by a doctor. If side effects like extreme pain, headache, numbness, or weakness persist, then call your doctor right away!

Before the injection, you, the patient, will lie face down or up to leave the neck exposed. Then, the physician will sedate you using a local anesthetic. However, you will remain awake, and your neck will be numbed. Now, the physician will use a fluoroscope (X-ray) to guide the needle to the injection area. Then, the needle will be inserted in the neural foramen space, which is the area where nerves travel along the spine. With the help of injecting contrast dye, the physician will make irritated nerves visible. After injecting, within several minutes, the needle will be removed, and physicians will apply a small bandage to the injection area. Depending on your pain, you will get single or multiple injections. Hence, this is how selective cervical nerve root block is performed.