Why did your doctor perform this procedure?
Each rib on either side of the body has a nerve that travels along with the rib on its bottom side.  These nerves provide sensation to the skin and underlying tissues such as muscle and bone of the abdomen and chest.  If you have a painful lesion along the area of one of these intercostals nerves, your doctor may perform an intercostals nerve block to help in the treatment of your pain and guide your doctor in identifying your painful problem.

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How is the procedure performed?
A small needle is placed under the rib in the back.  This is where the intercostals nerve lies and is really just a short distance under the skin.  A small amount of local anesthetic will be injected to numb the nerve.  You doctor may also inject steroid onto the nerve to help reduce inflammation.

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What can you expect after the procedure?
You will likely notice a numb area on your chest or abdomen that may persist up to 12 hours or longer.  You may have some return of your pain after this period of time as it may take up to 24-36 hours before the steroid takes effect to reduce the inflammation and help in relieving the pain.  You will be observed carefully in the recovery room by our nurses before leaving the clinic.

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What are the side effects?
You may experience a small amount of bruising, bleeding or swelling at the site of the injection.  It is best to apply ice compresses in the first 24 hours, followed by heat after 24 hours, in short durations, usually 20 minutes at a time.  A rare complication of an intercostals nerve block is pneumothorax.  This is essentially a hole in the lung that leaks air.  If you develop any symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, chest or shoulder pain, this might be the case and you should contact our office immediately.  If you develop any other problems, please call us immediately at 742-7030 so that we may recommend appropriate action.