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    Conditions We TreatChronic pain has many causes, and we have broad expertise in treating a wide range of conditions. Before beginning any treatment, however, we focus closely on identifying the precise nature of your pain. Pinpoint diagnosis provides the foundation to deliver maximum relief with minimum risk.View All
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    Treatment SolutionsNura combines pinpoint diagnosis with multi-point treatment to zero in on the source of chronic pain and attack it from every angle. Designed to provide real and lasting relief, precise pain management focuses your treatments exactly where they’re needed – dialing down your pain while dialing up your long-term health and well-being.View All
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        • Epidural Steroid Injections
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Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

A sympathetic nerve block is used to both diagnose damage and treat pain caused by the sympathetic nervous system, which runs from the spinal cord to various body parts including arms and legs.

Types of Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

Sympathetic nerve blocks can be performed along several areas of the spine. A sympathetic nerve block involves the injection of a medication to numb a nerve and interrupt the pain signals it sends to the brain.

A stellate block focuses on the sympathetic nerves in the upper spine, including those that run to the chest, arms, neck and head. A nerve block of the celiac plexus involves the sympathetic nerves in the middle of the spine that reach the abdomen. A lumbar sympathetic nerve block targets the sympathetic nerves of the lower spine that affect the legs and feet and a hypogastric plexus block targets sympathetic nerves to the pelvis.

Stellate Ganglion Block

Celiac Plexus Block

Lumbar Sympathetic Nerve Block

Hypogastric Plexus Nerve Block

Ganglion of Impar Injection

What are Sympathetic Nerves?

The sympathetic nerves are responsible for essential bodily functions, including the regulation of blood vessels, heart rate, perspiration but are not normally involved in transmission of pain. When sympathetic nerves are damaged however, they can cause chronic pain states like complex regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, peripheral causalgia and sympathetically-maintained pain.

The main cell body of the sympathetic nerve exists in various “sympathetic ganglia” that are located in front of the spine in the neck, mid-back, low back and pelvis.  These sympathetic ganglia are physically and functionally separate from the rest of the nervous system and it is possible to selectively block sympathetic nerves for diagnosis and therapy by blocking their associated sympathetic ganglion.

The stellate ganglion (head, arms and upper body), the lumbar sympathetic chain (legs), the celiac plexus (abdomen) and the hypogastric plexus (pelvis) supply the entire body’s sympathetic nervous system. When these nerves are irritated or injured, the blood supply to your arms and legs may be affected and can produce pain and sensory changes. Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction can also cause headache, neck pain, facial pain, abdominal pain and pelvic pain.

Benefits

Sympathetic nerve blocks are effective at relieving and sometimes even curing certain chronic pain conditions. Complex regional pain syndrome is a difficult to treat condition and has been shown to have excellent improvement of clinical pain symptoms after one or a series of sympathetic blocks.

Pain that originates from the sympathetic nervous system is not easily treated by oral pain medications, so sympathetic blocks are an extremely effective and beneficial treatment option.

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Edina Clinic

7400 France Avenue South
Suite 100
Edina, MN 55435
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Coon Rapids Clinic

2104 Northdale Boulevard NW
Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55433
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2104 Northdale Boulevard NW
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