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Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

Maybe your pain medication isn’t working anymore. Maybe you got tired of the side effects and stopped taking it. Or maybe you don’t want to take pain meds at all. Whatever the case, you need pain relief ASAP. A therapeutic nerve block may be the answer. Here are 7 things to know about therapeutic nerve […]

How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

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Being jolted out of a peaceful slumber by the intense pain and discomfort of leg cramps is shocking. More often than not, leg cramps or muscle spasms hit the calf muscles (calf muscle cramps are sometimes referred to as “charley horses”). But cramps hit the front and back of the thigh muscles, too. Here’s how […]

Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

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How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

/in Chronic Pain /by

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Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

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Maybe your pain medication isn’t working anymore. Maybe you got tired of the side effects and stopped taking it. Or maybe you don’t want to take pain meds at all.

Whatever the case, you need pain relief ASAP. A therapeutic nerve block may be the answer.

Here are 7 things to know about therapeutic nerve blocks:

1. What they are.

A pain-relief and healing therapy doctors employ as an alternative to pain medication. Therapeutic nerve blockers provide extended pain relief and assist the body’s healing process by reducing nerve irritation.

2. What areas of the body they can treat:

head: forehead, face, eyelids, scalp, upper jaw
neck (all of the neck)
back: middle back, lower back, upper back, pelvis
arms: shoulders, armpits, arms, elbows, wrists
hands (all of the hands)

3. What types of pain do therapeutic nerve blocks treat?

Arthritis pain or pain from injury:

Steroid injections with local anesthetic into the facet joints or vertebrae to help treat joint pain.

Childbirth, neck, back, or leg pain:

Steroid or other medication and local anesthetic injected into the epidural area are known as ‘epidurals.’ These injections are often used during labor to ease the pain of childbirth. They are also used to treat severe nerve pain in the neck, back, and legs.

For buttocks, lower back, and upper leg pain:

Steroid and local anesthetic injections into the sacroiliac joint, the area between the pelvic bones in the lower back.

For arthritis pain in the shoulder:

Steroid and anesthetic injections in the suprascapular area of the shoulder. They treat arthritis pain in the shoulder that isn’t treatable with direct, in-joint injections.

For chronic headaches:

Steroid and local anesthetic injections into the occipital nerves in the back of the head to relieve headaches and other types of nerve pain.

4. How long they relieve pain.

The pain relief from nerve block injections typically lasts from 1 to 2 weeks.

Doctors may recommend several or more injections when you face an extended recovery time from injury or need to buy time while looking for a permanent pain management solution.

5. What the procedure is like.

Nerve block procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and should take less than 30 minutes.

An anesthetic and anti-inflammatory or steroid are injected near the nerves sending pain signals to the brain.

Pain Management in Texas

At Texas Pain Physicians, our board-certified pain management doctors will address your pain at the source. They will map out a unique pain treatment strategy for you.

Please call us today at (972) 636-5727 or click here to schedule an appointment.

How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

/in Chronic Pain /by

Being jolted out of a peaceful slumber by the intense pain and discomfort of leg cramps is shocking.

More often than not, leg cramps or muscle spasms hit the calf muscles (calf muscle cramps are sometimes referred to as “charley horses”). But cramps hit the front and back of the thigh muscles, too.

Here’s how to stop, or at least cut down on night leg cramps.

1. Stretch your legs.

Unstretched muscles may be more prone to cramping, especially for people over 50, who report more nighttime leg cramps than younger people. This is likely due to muscles shortening with age.

If you have a few free minutes, loosen up your calf, hamstring, and quad muscles with some stretches during the day or before bed.

2. Be as active as possible.

Underused muscles may be more prone to cramping.

Work, school, and other obligations keep us on tight schedules. But getting in a bit of exercise in your free moments during the week may keep the cramps away.

If you only have time at night, try to do some light exercise just before bed, along with your stretching. Just make sure not to overdo it. Overstimulating muscles causes muscles fatigue, which can cause leg cramps.

3. Stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes.

Experts think dehydration can cause cramps. Try to drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day.

When you sweat from exercise or any strenuous activity, drink extra water and eat something healthy to replenish electrolytes.

Healthy foods and drinks like bananas, watermelon, milk and yogurt, and coconut water can help restore your electrolyte balance.

Also, try to avoid having too many drinks that contribute to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, such as coffee and alcoholic beverages.

4. Take a warm shower or apply heat before bed.

Sore, tired leg muscles are more prone to cramping. Taking a warm or hot shower or applying heat to them before bed can loosen and relax muscles and prevent night cramps.

5. Loosen your bedding.

If your sheets are tucked in so that your feet and legs can’t move freely, they are too tight. Loosen your bedding so that you can stretch out and shift comfortably.

6. Wear comfortable or orthopedic shoes.

Go easy on your legs by wearing comfortable shoes or even orthopedic shoes when you can. When your shoes don’t provide arch support, your leg muscles compensate, leading to muscle fatigue and cramps.

Pain Management at Texas Pain Physicians

Do you or someone you know have nighttime leg cramps? Would you like to schedule an appointment with a top-rated, board-certified pain management specialist? Please get in touch with us today at (972) 636-5727.

Our Locations

PEARLAND - HOUSTON
2243 Park Ave,
Pearland, TX 77581

(281) 616-3314
|
(972) 666-1504

IRVING
7200 N. State Highway 161, Ste. 200
Irving, TX 75039

(972) 559-3501
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(972) 559-3529

MESQUITE
910 N Galloway Ave, Ste 302
Mesquite, TX 75149

(972) 301-8897
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(972) 997-1299

NORTH DALLAS
10 Medical Pkwy Plaza 3 Suite 106
Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(972) 636-5727
|
(972) 666-1504

PLANO
5068 W. Plano Parkway ste 170
Plano, Texas 75093.

(972) 636-5727
|
(972) 666-1504

ROCKWALL
3013 Ridge Road, Ste. 101
Rockwall, TX 75032

(972) 636-5727
|
(469) 264-5192

STONE OAK - SAN ANTONIO
1202 E Sonterra Blvd, Ste 101
San Antonio, TX 78258

(210) 546-1410
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(210) 546-1419

SOUTHLAKE
241 W. Southlake Blvd., Ste 140
Southlake, TX 76092

(972) 301-8896
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(972) 997-1298

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
8221 Mid Cities Blvd, Ste 100
North Richland Hills, TX 76182

(214) 666-8077
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(469) 640-6400

WAXAHACHIE
600 Ferris Ave
Waxahachie, TX 75165

(972) 497-2655
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(214) 238-5242

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Is Therapeutic Nerve Block A Pain Treatment for You? 7 “Need to Knows”

1. What they are.

2. What areas of the body they can treat:

3. What types of pain do therapeutic nerve blocks treat?

4. How long they relieve pain.

5. What the procedure is like.

Pain Management in Texas

How to Stop Night Cramps in Your Legs

1. Stretch your legs.

2. Be as active as possible.

3. Stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes.

4. Take a warm shower or apply heat before bed.

5. Loosen your bedding.

Pain Management at Texas Pain Physicians

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