What Is a Nerve Block?
A nerve block is a minimally invasive procedure that temporarily interrupts pain signals traveling from the shoulder to the brain.
During a nerve block, an interventional radiologist injects a local anesthetic around one or more nerves that carry pain signals from the shoulder joint. By temporarily numbing these nerves, a nerve block can reduce pain and help improve comfort during daily activities.
Nerve blocks are commonly used for patients with chronic shoulder pain caused by conditions such as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), rotator cuff tendinopathy, or shoulder arthritis. They may be recommended when physical therapy, medications, and injections have not provided adequate relief.
How Does a Shoulder Nerve Block Work?
The shoulder contains several nerves that transmit pain signals from the joint and surrounding tissues. A nerve block temporarily stops these pain signals from reaching the brain by delivering numbing medication directly around the targeted nerve.
Because the treatment focuses on the nerves responsible for pain, many patients experience rapid symptom relief after the procedure. Relief may begin within minutes to hours, depending on the medication used and the specific nerves being treated.
Why Is a Nerve Block Performed?
A nerve block serves two important purposes.
Temporary Pain Relief
A nerve block can provide meaningful short-term relief for patients experiencing chronic shoulder pain. Reducing pain may improve sleep, increase comfort during physical therapy, and make daily activities easier to perform. Some patients experience relief that lasts for weeks or even months.
Determining Whether Nerve Ablation May Help
A nerve block also serves as a diagnostic test. If a patient experiences significant pain relief after a nerve block, it suggests that the targeted nerves are contributing to the pain. This information helps determine whether a longer-lasting procedure, such as nerve ablation, may be an effective treatment option.
Who Can Benefit
You may be a candidate for a nerve block if you:
- Have chronic shoulder pain that interferes with sleep, work, or daily activities.
- Continue to experience pain despite physical therapy, medications, or injections.
- Have adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
- Have rotator cuff tendinopathy.
- Have shoulder arthritis or other chronic shoulder conditions.
- Want a minimally invasive treatment option before considering surgery.
- Are being evaluated for a possible nerve ablation procedure.
Your physician will determine whether a nerve block is appropriate based on your symptoms, diagnosis, imaging findings, and treatment history.
What to Expect
Before the procedure
Before treatment, you will meet with an interventional radiologist to review your medical history, symptoms, and previous treatments. Your physician will explain the procedure, discuss expected outcomes, and identify the nerves most likely to be contributing to your shoulder pain.
During the procedure
A shoulder nerve block is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. During treatment:
- The skin is cleaned and prepared.
- Imaging guidance is used to identify the target nerve or nerves.
- A small needle is positioned near the nerve.
- A local anesthetic is injected around the nerve to temporarily interrupt pain signals.
The procedure generally takes only a short time and does not require surgery.
After the procedure
Most patients return home shortly after treatment. Pain relief may begin within minutes to hours after the procedure. Some patients experience temporary relief lasting days, weeks, or months, depending on the underlying condition and the nerves treated.
Your physician may ask you to track your pain levels and activity improvements following the procedure. This information helps determine whether nerve ablation may provide longer-lasting results.
Benefits of a Shoulder Nerve Block
Rapid Pain Relief
Many patients experience a noticeable reduction in shoulder pain shortly after treatment. Relief can improve sleep, comfort, and overall quality of life.
Improved Function
Reducing pain may make it easier to participate in physical therapy and return to daily activities that were previously limited by shoulder discomfort.
Minimally Invasive Treatment
A nerve block does not require surgery and is typically performed on an outpatient basis using image guidance. Patients can usually return home the same day.
Helps Guide Future Treatment
One of the most valuable benefits of a nerve block is the information it provides. A successful nerve block helps identify whether nerve ablation may be an effective long-term treatment option for chronic shoulder pain.
How Long Does a Shoulder Nerve Block Last?
The duration of pain relief varies from patient to patient. Some patients experience relief for several days, while others may experience relief for weeks or months. The response to a nerve block depends on the underlying cause of shoulder pain and the nerves being treated.
Because a nerve block is primarily designed to provide temporary relief and guide treatment decisions, patients who experience significant improvement may be candidates for nerve ablation, which can provide longer-lasting interruption of pain signals.
Why Choose UHealth for Minimally Invasive Shoulder Pain Treatment?
Chronic shoulder pain can affect every aspect of daily life, from sleep and work to exercise and routine activities. At UHealth, our Interventional Radiology team offers advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for patients who have not found relief with physical therapy, medications, or injections.
Our goal is to identify the source of your pain and create a personalized treatment plan that helps restore function, improve mobility, and reduce discomfort.
Specialized Expertise in Image-Guided Procedures. Your care is provided by interventional radiologists with specialized training in minimally invasive, image-guided treatments. Using advanced imaging technology, our physicians can precisely target the blood vessels and nerves that contribute to chronic shoulder pain while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues.
Personalized Treatment Planning. Not all shoulder pain has the same cause. Conditions such as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), rotator cuff tendinopathy, and shoulder arthritis may require different treatment approaches. Our team carefully reviews your symptoms, medical history, prior treatments, and imaging studies to determine which procedure — or combination of procedures — may provide the greatest benefit.
Comprehensive Minimally Invasive Treatment Options. UHealth offers multiple minimally invasive treatment options for chronic shoulder pain, including transarterial embolization (TAE), diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation. Because these treatments address different causes of pain and inflammation, patients may benefit from a customized treatment strategy designed around their individual condition and goals.
Focused on Function, Mobility, and Quality of Life. Successful treatment involves more than reducing pain. Our team focuses on helping patients improve shoulder mobility, return to daily activities, participate in physical therapy more comfortably, and regain the ability to perform tasks that chronic shoulder pain may have limited.
Minimally Invasive Alternatives to Surgery. Many patients seek treatment because they want to avoid surgery or are not candidates for surgical intervention. Minimally invasive procedures such as TAE, nerve blocks, and nerve ablation may provide meaningful symptom relief without the recovery associated with major shoulder surgery. These outpatient procedures are designed to help patients return home the same day and resume normal activities as directed by their physician.
Take the Next Step
If chronic shoulder pain is preventing you from sleeping, working, exercising, or enjoying the activities you love, 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 right for you.
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