A few days ago we covered the topic of nerve blocks for chronic pain. Our expert Arizona pain doctors use nerve blocks as a very effective treatment method, many times used simultaneously with conventional and alternative treatments. One of the treatments provided by The Pain Center of Arizona is a radial nerve block. As you browse through our site, take some time to visit the Treatments Page and watch the animation regarding the radial nerve block procedure.

The Radial Nerve

The radial nerve is that functions the upper limb; triceps, biceps, forearm, wrists, hand and fingers. This nerve is crucial to proper control of everything pertaining to the arm, wrist, hand and fingers.

Radial Nerve Dysfunction or Palsy

Like all other conditions affecting the nerves, radial nerve dysfunction is a form of neuropathy, specifically peripheral neuropathy. Damage to the nerves from injury, long-term repetition constricting the wrist, or long-term pressure on the nerves can cause abnormal sensations in the arm or hand, difficulty extending the arm or wrist, numbness, decreased feeling, or burning and pain. Patients who develop spontaneous neuropathy may also have a high susceptibility to other neuropathies, so speak to your Arizona pain doctor about the possibility of developing this condition is other areas and nerves of the body.

Nerve damage and neuropathy are some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat because the nerves are a highly complex system. Radial nerve damage, however, is fairly easy to asses simply due to the obvious symptoms of muscle loss in the arm and decreased ability to extend the arm at the elbow.

Radial Nerve Treatments

While there are quite a few treatments available for radial nerve neuropathy, a radial nerve block will most often be used along with medication to reduce swelling and increase functionality of the arm, hand or wrist.

A radial nerve block is an anesthetic injected directed into the radial nerve. The nerve block temporarily blocks sensation in the hand, wrist or arm, leaving the patient with a numbing sensation that will last for several hours after the injection. This numbing will ‘block’ exaggerated pain signals from the radial nerve back to the brain, limiting the amount of chronic pain that a patient feels.

For more information on radial nerve blocks, visit our Treatment Page or contact us directly.

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