Medically reviewed by Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS — dual board-certified spine surgeon & neurosurgeon. Last reviewed October 2026.

A nerve block places numbing medication directly on a specific nerve to stop it from transmitting pain. It does two things at once: it relieves your pain, and it tells us precisely which nerve is responsible — the essential step before a longer-lasting treatment like radiofrequency ablation.

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What Is a Nerve Block?

A nerve block is a precise, image-guided procedure that delivers numbing medication — often combined with a small amount of anti-inflammatory steroid — directly onto or beside a nerve that is carrying pain signals. When that nerve is bathed in local anesthetic, it temporarily stops sending its pain message to the brain. The result is twofold: your pain eases, and we learn something we could not learn any other way. If blocking a specific nerve relieves your symptoms, that nerve is confirmed as the source. If it doesn't, we have ruled it out and can look elsewhere.

That dual nature — diagnostic and therapeutic in a single procedure — is what makes nerve blocks so valuable in modern spine and pain care. Many back, neck, and limb pain problems look similar on the surface but come from very different structures: an arthritic facet joint, an irritated spinal nerve root, or a specific peripheral nerve. A well-placed block cuts through that uncertainty. At Desert Spine and Pain, every block is performed by a physician who understands the nervous system at a surgeon's level of detail, so the information it produces is used to build the right long-term plan for you.

Our Nerve Block Procedures

Most people searching for a "nerve block" don't yet know which nerve is driving their pain — pinpointing it is exactly what the procedure is for. These are the main types of block we perform, each matched to a specific pain pattern:

When Is a Nerve Block Recommended?

A nerve block is usually considered once we have a reasonable idea of where your pain is coming from but need to confirm it, or when a targeted block can give you real relief while a longer-term plan is put in place. You may be a candidate when:

• Your pain hasn't settled with conservative care. Back, neck, or limb pain that persists despite rest, physical therapy, and medication is a signal that a specific structure may be involved and worth pinpointing.
• We need to confirm the pain generator. When imaging shows more than one possible culprit, a block tells us which nerve or joint is actually responsible — so treatment isn't aimed at the wrong target.
• You may be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation. A medial branch block is the diagnostic test that shows whether ablating those nerves is likely to give you lasting relief from facet-joint pain.
• Your pain follows a nerve. Burning, shooting, or radiating pain that travels along a defined path often responds to a block aimed at that specific nerve.

Not everyone needs a block, and it is never the only tool. It is one part of a step-wise approach to interventional pain management that starts with the least-invasive option capable of answering your problem.

Blocks That Both Diagnose and Treat

Because Dr. Greenwald is a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon, he understands the nervous system in detail — which is exactly what a nerve block depends on. A well-placed block confirms the pain generator with precision. If a medial branch block relieves your facet-joint pain, for example, it tells us radiofrequency ablation is likely to give you months of relief. Every block is placed under live X-ray guidance for accuracy and safety.

Image-Guided Precision — and the Diagnostic Power of a Block

A nerve block is only as good as its placement. A target nerve can sit millimeters from the structure you are trying to avoid, so every block at Desert Spine and Pain is performed under live X-ray guidance, called fluoroscopy. Watching the needle in real time lets Dr. Greenwald position the medication exactly where it needs to be and confirm its location — often with a small amount of contrast dye — before anything else is injected. That precision is what makes the procedure both safe and diagnostically reliable.

The diagnostic value is the part patients most often overlook. A standard scan shows what your spine looks like, but not which structure is actually producing your pain — many people have arthritis or disc changes on imaging that cause no symptoms at all. A block answers the functional question directly: numb this one nerve, and see what happens to your pain. A clear, temporary drop in symptoms points straight at the source. For facet-joint pain, that confirmation is what separates patients who will benefit from radiofrequency ablation — a treatment that can quiet those nerves for many months — from those who would not, so no one undergoes a longer procedure on a guess.

What to Expect — From Consultation to Procedure

A nerve block should feel straightforward and unhurried. Here is how the process works at Desert Spine and Pain:

• Consultation & review. Dr. Greenwald reviews your history, examines you, and studies your imaging to decide whether a block is warranted and, if so, exactly which nerve to target.
• Preparation. You'll get clear instructions beforehand — including what to do about blood-thinning medications and arranging a ride home — and a chance to ask every question before the day arrives.
• The procedure. You rest comfortably, usually face down, while the skin is numbed. Using live X-ray guidance, Dr. Greenwald guides a thin needle to the target nerve and injects the medication. Most blocks take only about 15 to 30 minutes.
• Monitoring & next steps. After a brief observation period you go home the same day. We ask you to note how your pain responds over the following hours, because that response guides the next step in your plan.

Recovery & Aftercare

A nerve block is an outpatient procedure, so you'll go home the same day — but because the area was numbed and you may have had light sedation, you should arrange for someone to drive you. Most patients take it easy for the rest of the day and avoid strenuous activity, then return to normal routines the following day. Some soreness at the injection site for a day or two is common and usually eases with rest and ice.

How long the relief lasts depends on what the block is doing. When a block is primarily diagnostic, the numbing effect is meant to be temporary — its real job is to reveal the pain source. When relief fades, that is expected and does not mean the procedure failed; it means we have the answer we needed. If a steroid is included, any longer-lasting relief may build over several days. We'll ask you to keep track of how your pain changes, because that record tells us whether a longer-term treatment such as radiofrequency ablation is the right next move. You'll always leave with specific aftercare instructions and a clear plan for follow-up.

Insurance, Out-of-Network & Cost

We welcome out-of-network patients of every kind and you don't need a referral to be seen. Our team verifies your coverage and explains any out-of-pocket costs before your block is scheduled, so there are no surprises on the day of your procedure. Because many of our patients come to us after a car accident or injury, we also coordinate closely with personal-injury attorneys and offer 24/7 concierge support for accident-related nerve pain — so care is never delayed while the details are sorted out.

Proudly Serving the Greater Phoenix, Arizona Area

Why Choose Our Nerve Block Specialists in Phoenix

Your blocks are performed by a board-certified spine surgeon and neurosurgeon who can interpret the result and plan the next step without a referral to anyone else. We welcome out-of-network patients and coordinate closely with personal-injury attorneys for accident-related nerve pain.

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Nerve Blocks: Frequently Asked Questions