Second-Tier Pain Therapies
The second level in the chronic pain treatment continuum includes procedures or treatments that are more intensive. The following describes level-two pain therapies:
Nerve blocks. With nerve blocks, a local anesthetic or steroids are applied directly to the nerve causing the pain. Nerve blocks may relieve pain temporarily by having a numbing effect or by decreasing the swelling of tissues around the nerve.
Systemic opioids. Powerful pain medications known as opioids are often prescribed when severe chronic pain does not respond to level-one therapies. Opioids can effectively relieve the most severe pain.
Neurolysis. With neurolysis, a chemical or extreme temperatures are used to stop a nerve from sending pain signals to the brain.
Back to the chronic pain treatment continuum.