Femoral & Sciatic Nerve Blocks: Pain Relief Procedures

Doctors may perform femoral nerve block or sciatic nerve block surgical procedures to treat patients with pain and irritation from entrapped nerves. These procedures benefit many patients and have risks of side effects.

Femoral Nerve Block

• According to Deaconess Health System, doctors inject a steroid and local anesthetic into a patient̵7;s skin and deep tissue to block pain signals from the femoral nerves in the thigh and calf.

Reasons for Femoral Nerve Block

• Patients with impaired gait and numbness or pain in the calf or thigh may benefit from a femoral nerve block.

Femoral Nerve Block Risks

• Individuals may have difficulties standing or walking due to leg weakness after a femoral nerve block.

Sciatic Nerve Block

• Physicians inject a steroid and local anesthetic mixture into the pelvis to block pain signals from the buttocks or leg.

Reasons for Sciatic Nerve Block

• People with pain that radiates along the entire leg to the foot may benefit from a sciatic nerve block.

Sciatic Nerve Block Risks

• Bleeding, infection and leg weakness may occur with a sciatic nerve block.