A nerve block is an interventional procedure in which a local anesthetic, often combined with a corticosteroid or other anti-inflammatory agent, is injected at or near a specific nerve or group of nerves to interrupt pain signals traveling from a particular region of the body to the brain. Nerve blocks serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in pain medicine. Diagnostically, a nerve block can help your physician confirm the precise source of your pain — if a targeted injection at a specific nerve provides temporary relief, it confirms that nerve’s involvement in your pain condition and guides further treatment decisions, including whether you may benefit from a longer-lasting procedure such as radiofrequency ablation. Therapeutically, nerve blocks can provide significant pain relief lasting weeks to months, reduce inflammation at the site of nerve irritation, and in many cases, facilitate participation in physical therapy and rehabilitation that would otherwise be too painful. At Coastal Spine & Pain, Dr. Webb performs a wide variety of nerve block procedures including medial branch blocks for facet joint pain, intercostal nerve blocks for chest wall and rib pain, occipital nerve blocks for certain headache conditions, peripheral nerve blocks, and sympathetic nerve blocks for complex regional pain syndrome and other sympathetically mediated conditions. All procedures are performed using fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance to ensure precise needle placement, maximize efficacy, and minimize risk. Nerve blocks are typically performed on an outpatient basis and most patients are able to return to their normal activities within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.