Description:
Intercostal Nerve Blocks are minimally invasive and highly effective in alleviating chest wall pain arising, for example, from prior rib fractures, chest surgery, or an episode of shingles. This procedure involves the injection of a long-lasting anesthetic around painful ribs, providing pain relief from chest wall pain. If Intercostal Nerve Blocks provide significant short-term pain relief, then Intercostal Nerve Ablation will be recommended. Intercostal Nerve Ablation desensitizes a small area of the nerve tissue using an electrical current, which stops the transmission of painful signals.
Conditions Treated:
Intercostal Nerve Blocks and Intercostal Nerve Ablation are commonly recommended for patients with the following conditions:
- Chest wall pain
- Prior rib fractures
- Prior chest wall surgery
- Prior episode of shingles
- Prior chest wall trauma
What to Expect:
Intercostal Nerve Blocks: procedure length <5min. Patients start experiencing significant pain relief almost immediately. The expected duration of pain relief is several days. Intercostal Nerve Ablation: procedure length: <10min. Patients start experiencing significant pain relief within 2 weeks following the procedure. The expected duration of pain relief is 12 months. If requested by the patient, this procedure can be done with IV sedation. Please note that if IV sedation is requested, the patient would need to bring a driver with them on the day of the procedure.