Nerve Block for Back Pain: Is It the Right Treatment?

Back pain has a way of taking over your life without warning. It may start as a dull ache after a long day, then gradually turn into pain that makes sitting through work, driving across Austin, or getting comfortable in bed feel like a challenge. Many people spend weeks trying medications, physical therapy, stretching exercises, or changes to their daily routine. Those treatments help many patients, but not everyone gets the relief they were hoping for.

At Advanced Pain Care, we meet patients who are tired of chasing temporary back pain solutions. When pain continues despite trying conservative treatment, you may need to try a nerve block for back pain. With this minimally invasive treatment, your provider targets the nerves carrying pain signals, and it is more likely to provide better relief rather than masking symptoms throughout the body.

According to the CDC’s 2025 QuickStats report, nearly one in four U.S. adults experienced chronic pain in 2023. No doubt chronic pain is common in the United States, but not every case needs a nerve block procedure.

Before determining whether to have a nerve block in Austin, Texas, speak with a pain management doctor who may determine whether it is right for you or not based on your symptoms.

What Is a Nerve Block for Back Pain?

Understanding Nerve Blocks

A nerve block for back pain delivers medication near the nerve(s) causing your pain. Rather than circulating through your whole body first, the medication goes directly where it is needed most.

There are two types of nerve blocks your provider may recommend.

• A diagnostic nerve block helps answer an important question: Is this nerve really causing the pain? If your symptoms improve after the injection, your provider has valuable information that can guide the next stage of treatment.
• A therapeutic nerve block is designed to calm inflammation around an irritated nerve and provide longer-lasting relief after the pain source has been identified.

A carefully performed nerve block injection is both a diagnostic tool and a treatment, making it an important option for many people living with chronic back pain.

Conditions Commonly Treated with Nerve Blocks

A nerve block procedure may be recommended for several spine-related conditions, including:

• Facet joint pain
• Herniated disc pain
• Sciatica
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
• Degenerative disc disease
• Post-surgical back pain

Although these conditions can produce similar symptoms, they are treated differently. Getting to the source of your pain helps your provider recommend the treatment that’s most likely to help.

How Does a Nerve Block Work?

During the nerve block procedure for back pain​, there are mainly two medications used: a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid.

With a local anesthetic, you may find immediate relief, as it starts working immediately. The corticosteroid works over the following days by reducing inflammation around the irritated nerve. As the inflammation settles, many people find it easier to move with less pain.

Image Guidance for Procedure

Getting the medication to the right spot is just as important as the medication itself. Pain management specialists at Advanced Pain Care use fluoroscopy or ultrasound to guide the needle during the procedure. With the image guidance, the accuracy of medicine delivery improves, and the nearby tissues remain protected.

How Long Does a Nerve Block Last for Back Pain?

How long nerve block pain relief lasts is not fixed, as many factors play a role in it:

• The type of nerve block
• The condition being treated
• How irritated the nerve is
• How your body responds to the medication

Also, there are some conditions that need multiple nerve block injections for relief. Your pain management specialist will make you aware of that.

What Benefits Can Nerve Blocks Provide for Chronic Back Pain?

When a nerve block works well, there are a few little things you notice throughout the day.

• Less intense pain: Your life may start to feel more comfortable.
• Move with ease: Improve your ability to participate in physical therapy. 
• Comfortable sleep: With less pain, you are likely to sleep better.
• Reduce medication reliance: You might not need them as often or at all.
• You may be able to start doing the little things again: Whether it’s going to work, spending time with family, or enjoying a hobby, everyday life can begin to feel a little more normal.

When to See a Pain Management Specialist at Advanced Pain Care, Austin, TX?

You should not keep ignoring your pain or just rely on short-term pain relief treatments for long.

It is better to see a pain management specialist if:

• Your back pain has been hanging around for more than 12 weeks.
• You find it difficult to perform simple daily activities.
• Rest, medication, and physical therapy haven’t helped enough.
• Pain keeps returning after previous treatment.
• You want to explore nonsurgical treatment options before considering spine surgery.

Are Nerve Blocks Safe? 

You should not keep ignoring your pain or just rely on short-term pain relief treatments for long. Nerve blocks are minimally invasive procedures, but like any medical treatment, there are potential risks and side effects. The type and location of nerve block procedures you receive determine the risk and potential side effects. Your team of providers at Advanced Pain Care will carefully consider the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives before making treatment recommendations. 

Find the Right Treatment at Advanced Pain Care

Living with chronic back pain should not become your new normal. Many patients across Austin discover that the right diagnosis is just as important as the right treatment. When the source of pain is clearly identified, a nerve block injection may provide meaningful relief while helping you return to work, family activities, and the routines you enjoy most.

Let Advanced Pain Care help you make your life less painful and more cheerful again. Our pain management specialists will evaluate your pain and determine whether nerve blocks for pain relief could help.