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Cluneal nerve blocks are injections that diagnose and relieve lower back and buttock pain caused by irritated cluneal nerves. Florida Pain Medicine, proudly serving Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Brandon, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Tampa Bay, Riverview, Daytona Beach, and St. Petersburg, Florida, offers expert cluneal nerve block procedures. Their specialists use advanced imaging guidance to deliver targeted relief. Contact Florida Pain Medicine today to find out if cluneal nerve blocks can ease your chronic pain.
Cluneal Nerve Blocks Q & A
What is a cluneal nerve block?
A cluneal nerve block is an injection that targets the cluneal nerves, which are small nerves running through the lower back and upper buttocks.
These nerves can become irritated or trapped, causing sharp or burning pain in the lower back, hips, or buttocks.
Florida Pain Medicine uses cluneal nerve blocks to diagnose and treat this often-overlooked source of chronic low back pain.
How does a cluneal nerve block work?
The injection uses a local anesthetic, sometimes mixed with an anti-inflammatory steroid. Your provider delivers the drugs precisely around the cluneal nerves, numbing them so pain signals can’t reach the brain.
If your pain improves significantly after the injection, it helps confirm that the cluneal nerves are the source. Relief may last from a few weeks to several months, with some patients needing additional injections for longer-lasting results.
What conditions can a cluneal nerve block help treat?
Cluneal nerve entrapment, sometimes called cluneal neuropathy, can cause stubborn low back or buttock pain that doesn’t improve with usual treatments like physical therapy, chiropractic care, or medications.
This condition can be mistaken for sciatica, sacroiliac joint problems, or lumbar spine issues. A cluneal nerve block can both diagnose cluneal nerve entrapment and provide significant pain relief, helping patients get back to walking, sitting, and sleeping more comfortably.
What happens during the cluneal nerve block procedure?
Before a cluneal nerve block injection, you lie on your stomach while your provider cleans the skin. They then use imaging guidance, such as ultrasound or X-rays, to accurately locate the cluneal nerves.
After numbing the skin, your provider places a thin needle near the nerves and slowly injects the medication. The entire procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes, and you can go home the same day.
Are cluneal nerve block procedures safe?
Cluneal nerve blocks are generally very safe when performed by specialists like those at Florida Pain Medicine.
Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site may occur, but it usually fades quickly. Some patients experience immediate pain relief, while others notice improvement over a few days.
If the injection works well, it confirms that the cluneal nerves are the source of the pain. Additional treatments or repeated blocks can help extend your relief.
Call the nearest Tampa Bay or Daytona Beach office of Florida Pain Medicine today for advice on cluneal nerve blocks or book an appointment online.