A nerve block is a local anesthetic injected into or around a
nerve or into the spine to temporarily prevent the nerve from
relaying pain. A nerve block may cause temporary muscle
paralysis or a loss of all feeling in the affected area or in
the surrounding area. Nerve blocks can be used to determine the
source of pain, to treat painful conditions, and to predict how
pain will respond to long-term treatments. Nerve blocks are also
used for short-term pain relief after some surgeries and other
procedures. They may be used for anesthesia during some smaller
procedures, such as finger surgery. January 20, 2011 Anne C.
Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation How this information was developed
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