Peripheral Nerve Block

A peripheral nerve block is used to provide regional anaesthesia for surgery, avoiding the need for a general anaesthetic, or to prevent pain following an injury. 

For surgery, a nerve block can be preferable to a general anaesthetic in some cases because there a less side effects, it can helps a quicker recovery from the surgery, and provides better pain relief.

What happens during this procedure?

Your Anaesthetist will ensure that the area of skin to be injected is clean. He or she will then inject local anaesthetic into the area of skin surrounding the nerve block injection site. An ultrasound scan is often used to pinpoint the specific nerve or bundle of nerves that will block all sensation of feeling and pain to the area of the body injured or receiving surgery.

You will feel pressure and some sensation as the needle is inserted. The injection takes about 30 minutes to work fully and should not be painful.

How long will it take to recover?

Nerve blocks affect many types of nerves, including those that control normal sensation, pain and movement. When fully effective you will feel complete numbness, but as the nerve block wears off you will feel tingling, heaviness and the inability to move your arm or leg. As more sensation returns you may start to feel pain. Once a nerve block starts to wear off it is usually stops within 60 minutes. A small tube (or catheter) may be left in position which can be used to top-up the injection to prolong the duration of your pain relief.

You can use your private medical insurance or pay for your Peripheral Nerve Block treatment. We offer competitive, fixed price packages. If you are using your health insurance, please contact your insurer first for approval and let them know you’d like to be treated at One Hatfield Hospital.

Why One Hatfield

• Modern purpose-built hospital opened in December 2017
• Fast access to diagnostics including MRI, X-ray and Ultrasound
• Private, spacious, en-suite rooms
• Specialist physiotherapy and nursing teams
• Little or no waiting time
• ‘Ultra clean air’ theatres
• Freshly prepared food
• Calm, dignified experience

Contact us and find out more

If you are based in and around Hertfordshire, St Albans, Stevenage, Watford, North London, Welwyn or Bedfordshire and would like to visit the One Hatfield Hospital please click here.