Description:
Suprascapular Nerve Blocks are minimally invasive and highly effective in alleviating shoulder pain. This procedure involves the injection of a long-lasting anesthetic around a small bundle of nerves that provide sensation to the shoulder joint. If Suprascapular Nerve Blocks provide significant short-term pain relief, then Suprascapular Nerve Ablation will be recommended. Suprascapular Nerve Ablation desensitizes a small area of the nerve tissue using an electrical current, which stops the transmission of painful signals.
Conditions Treated:
Suprascapular Nerve Blocks and Suprascapular Nerve Ablation are commonly recommended for patients with the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis of the shoulder
- Chronic shoulder pain
- Post-surgical shoulder pain
- Shoulder joint inflammation
What to Expect:
Suprascapular Nerve Blocks: procedure length <5min. Patients start experiencing significant pain relief almost immediately. The expected duration of pain relief is several days. Suprascapular 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.