Treatment Options:

A lumbar sympathetic block is an injection of local anesthetic in the area surrounding the sympathetic nerves. Your sympathetic nerves are located on both sides of your spine in the lower back. These nerves are designed to control your body’s functions, like blood flow. However, in certain instances, the sympathetic nervous system can also carry pain information from peripheral tissues to the spinal cord.

A lumbar sympathetic block will block the flow of information from the nerves that go to the leg on the same side where the injections were given. For many this leads to a reduction of pain. It can also minimize swelling, sweating, discoloration, and other unusual symptoms in the affected leg.