What Is a Nerve Block?
A nerve block is a minimally invasive procedure that temporarily interrupts pain signals traveling from the lateral hip to the brain.
During the procedure, an interventional radiologist injects a local anesthetic around specific nerves that carry pain signals from the greater trochanter and surrounding tissues. In some cases, a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication may also be used.
For patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), the nerve most commonly targeted is the trochanteric branch of the femoral nerve, which provides sensory innervation to the greater trochanter and nearby structures.
How Does a Nerve Block Work?
A nerve block temporarily prevents targeted nerves from transmitting pain signals. By interrupting these signals, the procedure may reduce pain and improve comfort during everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, standing, and sleeping.
Because the treatment targets the nerves responsible for pain transmission, many patients experience relief within minutes to hours after the procedure. The duration of relief varies depending on the individual patient and underlying condition.
Why Is a Nerve Block Performed?
Nerve blocks serve two important purposes in the treatment of chronic lateral hip pain.
Temporary Pain Relief
A nerve block may provide meaningful short-term symptom relief. Reducing pain can improve sleep, increase comfort during physical therapy, and make daily activities easier to perform. Some patients experience relief lasting weeks to months.
Determining Whether Nerve Ablation May Help
A nerve block also serves as a diagnostic test. If the procedure provides significant temporary pain relief, it confirms that the targeted nerves are contributing to the symptoms. This information helps determine whether a longer-lasting procedure, such as nerve ablation, is likely to be beneficial.
Who Can Benefit
You may be a candidate for a nerve block if you:
- Have chronic lateral hip pain that affects sleep, exercise, work, or daily activities.
- Have greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS).
- Have gluteal tendinopathy or peritrochanteric pain.
- Continue to experience symptoms despite physical therapy, medications, or injections.
- Want a minimally invasive treatment option before considering surgery.
- Are being evaluated for possible nerve ablation treatment.
Your physician will review your symptoms, imaging findings, and treatment history to determine whether a nerve block is appropriate for your condition.
What to Expect
Before the procedure
Before treatment, your physician will review your symptoms, medical history, and previous treatments. The goal is to identify the nerves most likely to be contributing to your pain and determine whether a nerve block may provide therapeutic or diagnostic value.
During the procedure
A nerve block is typically performed in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia. During treatment:
- Ultrasound or X-ray guidance is used to identify the target nerve.
- A thin needle is positioned near the nerve.
- A small amount of local anesthetic is injected around the nerve to temporarily interrupt pain signals.
- In some cases, a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication may also be administered.
The procedure usually takes only a short time and does not require surgery.
After the procedure
Most patients return home shortly after treatment. Pain relief may occur within minutes to hours. The duration of symptom improvement varies, with some patients experiencing relief for weeks or months.
Your physician may ask you to monitor changes in pain levels and function following the procedure. This information can help guide future treatment decisions, including whether nerve ablation may be appropriate.
Benefits of a Nerve Block for Lateral Hip Pain
Rapid Pain Relief
Many patients experience a noticeable reduction in pain shortly after treatment. Pain relief may improve comfort during daily activities and reduce symptoms that interfere with sleep and mobility.
Improved Function
Reducing pain may make it easier to participate in physical therapy, walk longer distances, climb stairs, and perform everyday activities with less discomfort.
Minimally Invasive Treatment
Nerve blocks are performed using image guidance and do not require surgical incisions. Most patients undergo treatment in an outpatient setting and return home the same day.
Helps Guide Future Treatment
One of the most important benefits of a nerve block is its ability to identify whether nerve ablation may provide longer-lasting pain relief. A positive response to a nerve block helps confirm that the targeted nerves are contributing to the symptoms and may be appropriate treatment targets.
How Long Does a Nerve Block Last?
The duration of pain relief varies from patient to patient. Some patients experience relief lasting weeks to months. The response depends on the underlying condition, the nerves treated, and individual factors.
Because nerve blocks are often used as both a treatment and a diagnostic tool, patients who experience significant temporary relief may be candidates for nerve ablation, which is designed to provide longer-lasting symptom improvement.
What Is the Difference Between a Nerve Block and Nerve Ablation?
A nerve block uses medication to temporarily interrupt pain signals, while nerve ablation uses heat or cold energy to create a longer-lasting interruption of those same signals. Many patients undergo a nerve block first. If the procedure provides meaningful relief, nerve ablation may be recommended as the next step to provide more durable pain reduction.
Why Choose UHealth for Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome Treatment?
Chronic lateral hip pain can affect sleep, mobility, exercise, work, and everyday activities. At UHealth, patients receive comprehensive evaluation and minimally invasive treatment from specialists experienced in treating greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), gluteal tendinopathy, and other causes of persistent pain on the outer side of the hip.
Our goal is to identify the source of your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan designed to reduce pain, improve function, and help you return to the activities that matter most to you.
Expertise in Minimally Invasive, Image-Guided Treatment. UHealth's Interventional Radiology team specializes in minimally invasive procedures that target the source of chronic pain. Using advanced imaging technology, our physicians can identify abnormal blood vessels, inflamed tissues, and pain-transmitting nerves that may be contributing to lateral hip pain. These image-guided procedures allow for precise treatment while minimizing disruption to surrounding healthy structures.
Personalized Care for Chronic Hip Pain. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome can have multiple causes. Some patients experience pain related to gluteal tendinopathy, while others may have peritrochanteric inflammation, iliotibial band irritation, or pain arising from multiple sources. Our team reviews your symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, and imaging studies to determine the most appropriate treatment strategy for your condition.
Multiple Minimally Invasive Treatment Options. UHealth offers several minimally invasive treatment options for chronic lateral hip pain, including transarterial embolization (TAE), diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation. Because these procedures address different causes of pain and inflammation, patients may benefit from a single treatment or a combination of therapies based on their diagnosis and treatment goals.
Advanced Evaluation and Treatment Planning. Successful treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. Before recommending treatment, your physician will review your medical history, prior therapies, and imaging studies such as MRI or ultrasound. This comprehensive evaluation helps determine whether symptoms are related to greater trochanteric pain syndrome, gluteal tendinopathy, peritrochanteric inflammation, or another condition affecting the lateral hip.
Focused on Improving Function and Quality of Life. Reducing pain is only one part of treatment. Our team focuses on helping patients improve mobility, participate more comfortably in physical therapy and exercise, sleep with less discomfort, and return to daily activities that chronic hip pain may have limited.
Minimally Invasive Alternatives to Surgery. Many patients seek treatment because conservative therapies have not provided adequate relief and they want to avoid surgery. Minimally invasive procedures such as TAE, nerve blocks, and nerve ablation are performed through small needles or catheters rather than large surgical incisions. Most patients return home the same day and can resume activities based on their physician's recommendations.
Take the Next Step
If chronic lateral hip pain is affecting your sleep, mobility, exercise routine, or quality of life, a minimally invasive treatment may be an option. Schedule a consultation with a UHealth interventional radiologist to learn whether transarterial embolization (TAE), a nerve block, or nerve ablation may be appropriate for your condition.
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