Sympathetic Nerve Block: Your Experience

A sympathetic nerve block helps your health care provider find the cause of the burning, pain, or tingling in your arms and hands, or legs and feet. During the test, medicine is injected near your spine. This "blocks" the sympathetic nerves in that region. If these nerves are causing your problem, the injection will ease your symptoms for hours, days, or longer. This injection is used to help diagnose and to treat certain nerve problems, including chronic pain.

The injection is done in a hospital or surgery center. You will be asked to fill out some forms. This includes a consent form. You may also be examined.

Before you agree to this procedure, ask the provider the following questions:

• Why do I need this procedure?

• Are there any alternatives?

• How many times have you done this procedure?

• What are the complications?

• When will I see the results?

• Will the medicine in this injection interact with other medicines I am taking?

If you want help asking these questions, have a family member or friend come with you. The answers are critical to your health and safety.

Getting ready for your block

• Tell your health care provider what medicines you take. Do this at least a week before the block. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, like aspirin. It also includes vitamins, herbs, and other supplements. Ask if you should stop taking any of them before treatment.

• Tell your provider if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant.

• Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicines.

• Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the test.

• If asked, bring tests with you on the day of the block. This includes X-rays and MRIs.

During the procedure

To help you relax, your health care provider may give you medicine through an I.V. line. You will lie on an exam table on your stomach, back, or side. This depends on where you will be injected. During your block:

• The skin over the injection site is cleaned. A medicine (local anesthetic) is used to numb the skin.

• X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) may be used to help your provider determine exactly where the injection should be done. Contrast material may be added to the medicine to help get a better image.

• A health care provider injects a local anesthetic near the ganglion (cluster of nerves) to numb your nerves. If the sympathetic nerves are causing your problem, the temperature in your hands or feet will rise quickly. The block will ease your symptoms for a while. Blocks may give long-term relief from symptoms. For this treatment, a few blocks are generally given 1 to 2 weeks apart.

After the procedure

You will stay in a recovery area for about 1 hour. Once you can walk, you can go home. Have a friend or family member drive you. A neck injection may cause the eyelid on that side of your face to droop a little. Your voice may also be hoarse. These things will go away in a few hours when the anesthetic wears off. Within 1 or 2 days, your hand or foot symptoms will most likely return. The injection site may also be swollen and sore for a few days. Your provider can tell you when it’s OK to return to work.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your health care provider or get medical care right away if you have:

• Trouble swallowing.

• Prolonged hoarseness.

• Fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

• Any other concerns.

Call 911

Call 911 right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.

• Chest pain.