NASA Neuroscience And Spine Associates, P. L

Another common injection, a selective nerve root block (SNRB), is primarily used to diagnose the specific source of nerve root discomfort and, secondarily, for therapeutic relief of low back discomfort and/or leg discomfort.

When a nerve root becomes compressed and inflamed, it can produce back and/or leg discomfort. Occasionally, an imaging study (e.g. MRI) may not clearly show which nerve is causing the discomfort and an SNRB injection is performed to assist in isolating the source of discomfort. In addition to its diagnostic function, this type of injection can also be used as a treatment for a far lateral disc herniation (a disc that ruptures outside the spinal canal).

In an SNRB, the nerve is approached at the level where it exits the foramen (the hole between the vertebral bodies). The injection is done both with a steroid (an anti-inflammatory medication) and lidocaine (a numbing agent). Fluoroscopy (live x-ray) is used to ensure the medication is delivered to the correct location. If the patient’s discomfort goes away after the injection, it can be inferred that the back discomfort generator is the specific nerve root that has just been injected. Following the injection, the steroid also helps reduce inflammation around the nerve root.

Success rates vary depending on the primary diagnosis and whether or not the injections are being used primarily for diagnosis. While there is no definitive research to dictate the frequency of SNRB’s, it is generally considered reasonable to limit SNRB’s to three times per year.

Technically, SNRB injections are more difficult to perform than epidural steroid injections and should be performed by experienced physicians. Since the injection is outside the spine, there is no risk of a wet tap (cerebrospinal fluid leak). However, since the injection is right next to the nerve root, sometimes an SNRB will temporarily worsen the patient’s leg discomfort.