How Serious Is a Nerve Block Procedure?: Understanding Risks and Safety

October 10, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the CDC, over 51 million adults in the United States live with chronic pain, leading many to explore targeted treatment options like a nerve block procedure. While considered a safe alternative to surgery with fewer systemic side effects than oral medications, understanding how serious is a nerve block procedure involves weighing its potential benefits against its risks.

Quick Summary

A nerve block procedure is generally safe with a low risk of complications, especially with modern imaging guidance. Common side effects include temporary soreness or numbness, while rare risks involve infection, bleeding, or nerve damage. Patient health and the type of block influence the overall safety profile.

Key Points

Overall Safety: Nerve blocks are generally considered very safe, particularly compared to more invasive surgical options.
Common Side Effects: Expect mild and temporary side effects like soreness, bruising, numbness, or weakness at the injection site.
Rare Complications: Serious complications, including infection, bleeding, or nerve damage, are rare but possible.
Modern Guidance: The use of imaging technologies like ultrasound or fluoroscopy significantly improves accuracy and reduces risk.
Patient-Specific Risks: A patient's health status, including pre-existing conditions like bleeding disorders, can affect the level of risk.
Procedure Expectation: Most procedures are outpatient, quick, and require post-procedure monitoring before discharge.
Benefit vs. Risk: The targeted pain relief offered by nerve blocks often outweighs the low risk, especially for patients looking to avoid general anesthesia or systemic opioid medication.

Is a Nerve Block Procedure Considered Serious?

A nerve block procedure is generally not considered highly serious when compared to invasive surgeries. It is a minimally invasive medical intervention that provides temporary or permanent pain relief by interrupting nerve signals in a specific area of the body. Pain management specialists often prefer nerve blocks over general anesthesia due to their targeted nature and lower overall risk profile. However, like any medical procedure, nerve blocks carry some risks and potential side effects, which vary depending on the type of block, the location, and the patient's overall health.

Modern advancements, such as the widespread use of real-time ultrasound guidance and fluoroscopy, have significantly enhanced the precision and safety of nerve blocks by allowing physicians to visualize the needle's path and avoid critical structures. While complications are rare, it is essential for patients to have a thorough understanding of the potential risks before undergoing the procedure.

Common Risks and Side Effects

Most side effects from a nerve block are mild and temporary, resolving on their own within a few hours or days. These typically occur at the injection site or are related to the medication used.

Bruising and soreness: It is very common to experience localized bruising, swelling, or tenderness at the injection site.
Numbness or temporary weakness: The intended effect of the block can extend to temporary numbness or weakness in the treated area. For example, a leg block can cause temporary difficulty walking.
Headache: Some nerve blocks, particularly those involving the spine, can lead to post-procedure headaches.
Dizziness or lightheadedness: Patients may feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially if a sedative was used.
Elevated blood sugar: This is a potential side effect for patients with diabetes when steroids are used in the injection.
Flushing or rash: A temporary feeling of warmth or a skin rash can occur due to the medication.

Rare, but More Serious Complications

While uncommon, more serious complications can arise. Qualified providers take significant precautions, including sterile techniques and imaging guidance, to minimize these risks.

Infection: A risk with any injection, infection can occur at the injection site. Using strict sterile technique helps to mitigate this risk.
Bleeding: Internal bleeding or hematoma formation can occur, especially in patients on blood thinners.
Nerve damage: Although extremely rare, there is a small risk of temporary or permanent nerve damage. This can lead to prolonged loss of sensation or function. Providers monitor patient feedback during the procedure to avoid intraneural injection.
Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST): This rare, but serious complication occurs when the local anesthetic is accidentally injected into a blood vessel. Symptoms can range from tinnitus and circumoral numbness to seizures, coma, or cardiac arrest in severe cases. Hospitals and clinics where blocks are performed have emergency protocols and equipment to manage LAST.
Organ or arterial injury: Depending on the location of the block, there is a very rare risk of puncturing a nearby artery, vein, or organ.

Factors Influencing the Seriousness of the Procedure

Several factors can influence the seriousness and safety of a nerve block. These include:

Patient health: Certain conditions, such as existing infections at the injection site, bleeding disorders, or prior neurological issues in the area, can increase risk and may contraindicate the procedure.
Type and location of the block: Blocks in more complex or sensitive areas, such as the stellate ganglion in the neck, carry unique risks like a hoarse voice or temporary difficulty swallowing. Epidural blocks have different risks than peripheral blocks.
Provider experience: The skill and experience of the healthcare provider performing the nerve block significantly influence its safety and success. Using imaging guidance, such as ultrasound, has made nerve blocks safer and more reliable.

Comparison of Nerve Blocks vs. Other Pain Management Options


Feature	Nerve Block Procedure	General Anesthesia	Opioid Pain Medication
Risks	Low risk; primarily injection-site issues, rare but serious complications like nerve damage or LAST.	Higher systemic risk; involves risk to breathing, heart function, and post-procedure confusion.	Significant risk of addiction, dependency, systemic side effects like constipation, confusion, and nausea.
Side Effects	Temporary numbness, weakness, soreness at injection site.	Post-procedure nausea, vomiting, temporary cognitive dysfunction.	Constipation, drowsiness, nausea, potential respiratory depression.
Recovery	Often outpatient; quick recovery, able to eat/drink sooner.	Longer recovery time, requires careful monitoring.	Can be managed at home, but with systemic side effects.
Effectiveness	Targeted, effective pain relief for specific areas.	Puts patient fully unconscious; pain relief is generalized.	Generalized pain relief; may not be as effective for targeted nerve pain.

What to Expect During and After a Nerve Block

The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting and takes less than an hour. Patients often receive a mild sedative to help them relax. A healthcare provider uses imaging guidance (ultrasound or fluoroscopy) to accurately place a fine needle near the targeted nerve. The medication is then injected, and the area becomes numb. Following the procedure, you will rest for a short period before being discharged.

Immediate aftermath: It is common to feel numbness, tingling, or heaviness in the treated area.
Recovery: For a single-shot block, the numbing effect may last several hours to a day. Pain relief from steroids, if used, may take several days to become fully noticeable.
Post-procedure care: You will be advised to arrange for a ride home and follow activity restrictions for the first 24 hours.
Monitoring: You should monitor for signs of complications, like a fever, severe pain, or increased swelling, and contact your doctor if they occur.

Conclusion

A nerve block procedure is a safe and effective treatment option for many types of pain, offering a less invasive alternative to surgery and a way to reduce reliance on systemic opioids. While the procedure is generally not considered serious, it is vital to be aware of the potential risks and side effects, especially those that are rare but more severe. By discussing your individual health factors with an experienced pain management physician, you can make an informed decision and ensure the procedure is performed as safely as possible. Modern techniques involving imaging guidance and careful patient selection have further enhanced the safety profile, allowing many to achieve significant and lasting pain relief.

Learn more about different types of nerve blocks and their applications from the NIH's National Library of Medicine: Nerve Block Anesthesia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common risks include temporary soreness or bruising at the injection site, as well as temporary numbness or weakness in the targeted area. Headaches, dizziness, or a flushed feeling can also occur.

Nerve damage from a nerve block is extremely rare. In the infrequent cases where it does occur, it is usually temporary and resolves on its own. The use of imaging guidance, like ultrasound, helps a physician avoid direct contact with the nerve.

To minimize risks, choose an experienced and qualified provider, inform them of all your medications (especially blood thinners), and follow all pre-procedure instructions, such as fasting if required for sedation.

A nerve block is generally considered less serious and safer than general anesthesia. It avoids systemic effects and allows for a faster recovery with fewer side effects like post-procedure nausea or confusion.

Most mild side effects, such as soreness or numbness, resolve within a few hours to a day. The pain-relieving effects can last for a few hours, weeks, or even months, depending on the medication used.

You may not be a candidate if you have an active infection at the injection site, a bleeding disorder, or take certain blood-thinning medications.

LAST is a very rare but serious complication where local anesthetic is absorbed into the bloodstream, potentially causing seizures or cardiac issues. Clinics are prepared to manage this risk.

No, the level of risk varies depending on the type and location of the block. Blocks near major blood vessels or vital organs carry different considerations than peripheral blocks in a limb.