Sacral Nerve Root Block
What is a sacral nerve root block?
A sacral nerve root block is an injection of a local anesthetic along a specific sacral nerve root. The sacrum is a triangular bone located near the bottom of your vertebral spinal column. Along the sacrum there are holes or foramina on either side through which nerve roots emerge. When these foramina are partially closed or if the sacral nerve roots are inflamed it causes a shooting or radiating pain along that nerve root – typically in the buttock and back of the thigh, like sciatica. In a sacral nerve root block, a small needle is placed in the sacral foramen alongside the nerve root and the medication is injected.
How is it done?
At Atlas Pain Care, Coimbatore, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and taken to our procedure room. You will be asked to lie on your tummy and the lower back area will be cleaned with antiseptic solution and draped. The injection site is then identified using ultrasound or X-rays and a small amount of local anaesthetic is injected into the skin overlying the injection site to numb the skin. The medication is then given around the sacral nerve roots that emerge from the foramen. You may feel some discomfort during the injection, but this normally settles quickly.
The whole procedure will take around 20 minutes, after which you will be observed in recovery room for 30 minutes prior to discharge.
What should I expect after the injection?
Immediately after the injection, you may feel heaviness and numbness along that specific nerve root - typically, in the buttock and back of the thigh. You may notice that your pain may be gone or considerably less. There is no need for a repeat injection when the pain relief is good and lasts longer. When the pain relief is satisfactory, but short-lived, a pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the sacral nerve root is done to provide long-term pain relief. In this, an electric needle is placed close to the sacral nerves in a procedure that is similar to the one described above, and pulsed radiofrequency waves are sent through the needle to gently stun the nerve.
What are the risks and side effects?
Overall, this procedure has very few risks. Commonly encountered side effects are increased pain from the injection (usually temporary) and numbness. Infection, bleeding or nerve damage is very rare.
Please read our FAQ section to know more about the do's and don'ts prior to and after the procedure.