Image Guided Nerve Blocks for Pain Management

Image-guided nerve blocks are minimally invasive procedures that can deliver the medication in anaesthetic or steroidal form to the source from which pain is originating. The procedure is carried out using real-time imaging techniques like CT scans, ultrasound and fluoroscopy.

Most healthcare experts believe that image-guided blocks are a safe and effective method to manage pain in a variety of conditions. Some of them include sports injuries, arthritis, back pain, headaches and pain sourced from cancer. 

Why is Image Guided Nerve Block for Pain Management advised by healthcare experts? 

Your doctor may advise you of the image-guided nerve block for pain management due to a variety of reasons. Some of them are mentioned below:

  • Accuracy: The real-time imaging feature allows the doctors to see the position of the needle, ensuring that medication reaches the target to provide maximum pain relief to the patients. This precision allows risk limitations of injecting the needle into unintended areas to reduce the chance of complications. 
  • Effectiveness: Through image-guided nerve block for pain management healthcare providers can offer a more potent and localised pain relieving effect as compared to oral medications or topical creams. 
  • Minimal invasion: When compared to surgeries the image-guided nerve blocks are minimally invasive. It leads to better recovery times, producing less discomfort and a lower risk of infection. 
  • Reduction in the risk of complications: The use of imaging guidance can reduce the risk of a needle puncturing the unwanted vessels, nerves or other structures of the body. 
  • Diagnostic Tool: In certain specific cases, the image-guided nerve blocks can also be used as a diagnostic tool. Your doctor will inject a small amount of anaesthetic and observe the response to pain. They can highlight the exact cause of the pain by following this procedure. 
  • Outpatient procedure: The image-guided nerve block procedure can be performed typically on an outpatient basis. It allows the patient to return home after a short recovery period minimising the disruptions in the daily routines of an individual. 

What types of diseases can be treated through image-guided nerve blocks for pain management?

  • Musculoskeletal conditions: It is a broad category that can encompass pain originating from sources like tendons, ligaments, bones, joints and muscles. Some of the conditions include chronic pain syndromes, sports injuries and back pain. 
  • Neurological conditions: These conditions affect the nervous system of the body and can produce pain as a symptom. Examples include headaches, neuralgia and nerve damage.
  • Pain due to cancers: Pain can be a major issue for cancer patients and image-guided nerve blocks can help in the management of pain caused by the tumours or from nerve compression due spreading of the cancerous cells. 
  • Post-surgical pain: After specific surgeries especially those involving bones, joints or nerves an image-guided nerve block can offer targeted pain relief to speed up the recovery process and improve the overall rehabilitation. 

Who are the ideal candidates for this procedure? 

  • Individuals having a specific pain source: If your doctor can identify the specific nerve or group of nerve causing pain then image-guided nerve blocks for pain management can offer relief. 
  • Patients who could react positively to conservative measures: If your doctor has tried several procedures like medications, lifestyle changes and physical therapies but no improvement is seen then an image-guided nerve block may offer a more potent solution. 
  • Candidates for surgery who do not want to be involved in an invasive procedure: For some patients, the image-guided nerve block can offer pain as an alternative to surgery. It can be recommended to patients who do not want to involve themselves in a more extensive procedure. 

Expertise of Action Cancer Hospital in Image Guided Nerve Blocks for Pain Management 

  • Experienced Pain Management Team: At Action Cancer Hospital a team of experienced doctors and healthcare providers is working with a proven track record of successful outcomes to help you out. 
  • Availability of Advanced Imaging Technologies: At the hospital, doctors and healthcare providers have access to advanced imaging equipment like ultrasound, CT scan and fluoroscopy which is crucial for accurate needle placement during the procedure.

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