Is it effective to administer a nerve block for lumbar disc herniation?
Disease description:
I suffer from lumbar disc herniation and often experience severe lower back pain; sometimes my legs also feel numb. I would like to know whether injection therapy is actually effective. I'm really conflicted about whether I should choose injection therapy to alleviate the symptoms of my lumbar disc herniation.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Lumbar disc herniation injection therapy is an effective conservative treatment, especially for patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
Lumbar disc herniation is one of the common spinal disorders encountered in clinical practice, primarily manifesting as low back pain, radiating pain in the lower limbs, numbness, and other related symptoms. The mechanism of action of injection therapy mainly involves injecting lidocaine anesthetic and a small amount of hormone outside the dural membrane to suppress the excitability of nerve endings, improve local blood circulation, and reduce local inflammatory responses, thereby achieving pain relief.
Specifically, injection therapy has the following effects:
1. Pain relief: The medication in the injection can rapidly alleviate pain caused by lumbar disc herniation.
2. Muscle relaxation: Some medications can relax tense lower back muscles, relieve muscle spasms, and improve lumbar mobility.
3. Improved local blood circulation: The injected drugs enhance local blood flow, promoting inflammation resolution and tissue repair.
However, the effects are mostly temporary, and excessive reliance on this treatment may mask the underlying condition and delay more effective treatment opportunities. Additionally, long-term or frequent use of glucocorticoids may lead to a series of side effects, such as local tissue atrophy and increased risk of infection. Therefore, local injection therapy should be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for lumbar disc herniation, rather than the first choice or sole treatment method.
