A nerve block is a local anesthetic injected near a nerve or the spinal cord or nerve root. It may be used to treat some kinds of chronic pain. The nerve block numbs the area so you won't feel pain. It may provide short- or long-term pain relief. Nerve blocks can also be used to find the source of pain, to treat painful conditions, and to predict how pain will respond to long-term treatments.

Problems after a nerve block aren't common. There is a small risk of nerve damage, infection, or bleeding.