Procedure for Spinal Block for Spinal Stenosis

An injection into the spinal column that is designed to reduce pain is known as a spinal block. For those suffering from spinal stenosis, you may receive both diagnostic blocks and therapeutic blocks for your condition.

Pain Measurement

• For the diagnostic blocks to properly evaluate the usefulness of the block, you need to have a "normal" day of pain. This means you should not take any pain medication or reschedule if you are not experiencing pain on the day of the test.

Medical Procedure

• Stenosis spinal blocks are administered by injection. The area is sterilized and the the needle is guided by an X-ray called a fluoroscope into the spinal column.

Diagnostic Blocks

• Diagnostic blocks are injected in various regions where pain is most severe using a local anesthesia. These are designed to locate the best area for treatment but will wear off after about an hour.

Treatments

• Once your doctor has located the best location on the spine to administer the block, you will receive the corticosteroid injection. It generally takes four to six hours for the pain to begin to reduce stenosis pain and improve over time.

Appointment Duration

• Spinal blocks for stenosis are outpatient procedures that take only a few minutes. However, you will need to have someone drive you home from the appointment.