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Nerve Block Injections

Villanueva Institute of Pain and Spine

Nerve Block Injections in Burbank, CA

Nerve block injections are used when pain appears to travel through a specific nerve or nerve pathway. Sometimes that pain is sharp and electric. Sometimes it is deep, burning, hard to locate, or felt in an area where the source is not obvious, such as the pelvis, abdomen, tailbone, groin, leg, or foot.

Many patients who ask about nerve blocks have already been through a long process. They have tried medications, physical therapy, imaging, specialist visits, or other procedures, but the pain still has not been explained clearly. A nerve block can sometimes give us two important pieces of information at once: whether a particular nerve pathway is involved and whether quieting that pathway can give you meaningful relief.

My name is Dr. John Villanueva, and I’m double board-certified in PM&R and interventional pain management. At my practice, the Villanueva Institute of Pain and Spine (VIPS), I want to understand the full pattern of your pain before I recommend a nerve block. Where does it start? Where does it travel? What does it feel like? What positions or activities make it worse? What has already been tried? Those details matter because the injection has to match the pain pathway.

At VIPS, every nerve block is chosen for a specific reason. I will explain the nerve or nerve bundle involved, how it relates to your pain pattern, and what your response may tell us about the next step in your care.

If you are looking for nerve block injections in Burbank, CA, call VIPS at (818) 669-8895 or request an appointment online. We are located in Burbank and proudly serve patients visiting from Glendale, Pasadena, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area.

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What Are Nerve Block Injections?

A nerve block injection places medication near a nerve, nerve root, or nerve bundle that may be carrying pain signals. The medication often includes a local anesthetic, and in some cases, an anti-inflammatory medication or another medication may be used.

Some nerve blocks are diagnostic. They help answer a specific question: is this nerve pathway part of the pain? If your usual pain improves within the expected window, that response can provide us with useful information.

Other nerve blocks are therapeutic. They are performed to reduce pain, calm irritation, or make movement and daily activity easier. In many cases, a nerve block can be both diagnostic and therapeutic.

A nerve block does not fix every pain condition. It is one tool, and it works best when the target is chosen carefully.

How Do Nerve Blocks Work?

Nerves carry information between the body, spinal cord, and brain. When a nerve becomes irritated, inflamed, injured, compressed, or overactive, the pain can continue even when the original injury is no longer the whole explanation.

A nerve block places medication near the suspected pathway. If a local anesthetic is used, you may notice a temporary change fairly quickly. If an anti-inflammatory medication is part of the injection, the effect may take longer.

After placing the block, I will pay close attention to how you feel throughout a typical day:

  • Sitting may feel easier
  • You might notice you can walk farther without the same limits
  • The burning settles
  • Sleep often improves with fewer interruptions
  • Activities that used to hurt sometimes feel more manageable than usual


These everyday details give us a clearer sense of how well the block worked.

What Types of Pain Can Nerve Blocks Help?

Nerve blocks are most useful when the pain pattern suggests a specific pathway that can be targeted.

They may be used for pain related to:

  • Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS
  • Pelvic pain
  • Perineal, rectal, or genital-region pain
  • Tailbone pain
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Abdominal wall pain
  • Post-surgical nerve pain
  • Cancer-related pain patterns
  • Groin pain
  • Leg or foot pain involving sympathetic nerve pathways
  • Chronic pain that has not improved enough with medication, therapy, or prior procedures


The location of pain alone does not determine the right block. Pelvic pain, for example, can come from nerves, muscles, joints, organs, scar tissue, the spine, or more than one source at the same time. The same is true for abdominal pain, tailbone pain, and CRPS-related limb pain. That is why the evaluation comes first.

Lumbar Sympathetic Block for CRPS

A lumbar sympathetic block targets sympathetic nerves in the lower back. These nerves influence blood flow, sweating, temperature regulation, and certain pain responses in the legs and feet.

I may discuss a lumbar sympathetic block when CRPS affects the lower extremity, such as the leg, ankle, or foot. CRPS pain often has a distinct pattern: burning pain, severe sensitivity, swelling, color changes, temperature changes, sweating changes, stiffness, or difficulty using the affected limb.

The block can help us understand whether the sympathetic nervous system is contributing to the pain. If the pain or sensitivity improves, even temporarily, that response can guide the rest of the treatment plan.

For some patients, the relief also creates a useful window. When the pain calms down, it may become easier to walk, participate in physical therapy, tolerate desensitization work, or begin using the limb with less fear.

Ganglion Impar Block

A ganglion impar block targets a small nerve structure near the front of the coccyx, or tailbone. This area can be involved in pain around the tailbone, rectum, anus, perineum, or genital region.

Patients who benefit from evaluation for this block often describe pain that is worse with sitting, pressure, bowel movements, sexual activity, or certain positions. Some have pain after trauma, surgery, childbirth, pelvic injury, or radiation. Others have persistent pain without one simple explanation.

This type of pain can be difficult to talk about. I understand that. At VIPS, the conversation is handled directly and respectfully. The details are important, and you should not feel embarrassed describing where the pain is or how it is affecting your life.

Superior Hypogastric Plexus Block

A superior hypogastric plexus block targets a nerve network in the lower abdomen and pelvis. This nerve network carries pain signals from several pelvic organs and deep pelvic structures.

This block may be part of the discussion for certain chronic pelvic pain patterns, lower abdominal pain, bladder-related pelvic pain, uterine or gynecologic pain patterns, prostate-related pain patterns, pain after pelvic surgery, or cancer-related pelvic pain.

Pelvic pain is rarely simple. It can involve organs, nerves, muscles, scar tissue, joints, inflammation, the pelvic floor, and the spine. A superior hypogastric plexus block is not appropriate for every patient with pelvic pain, but it can be useful when the symptoms point toward this nerve pathway.

Celiac Plexus Block

A celiac plexus block targets a group of nerves in the upper abdomen. These nerves carry pain signals from organs in the upper abdominal region, including the pancreas and nearby structures.

A celiac plexus block is often discussed for certain upper abdominal pain patterns, including pancreatic-related pain and some cancer-related abdominal pain. In select cases, it may also be considered for non-cancer abdominal pain when the diagnosis, imaging, and symptom pattern support it.

Since upper abdominal pain can come from many different systems, I review the diagnosis carefully before discussing this kind of block. Imaging, prior gastrointestinal evaluation, surgical history, medication response, and the exact location of the pain all matter.

TAP Block for Abdominal Wall Pain

A TAP block, or transversus abdominis plane block, targets nerves that travel through the abdominal wall. This is different from a block used for deeper organ-related pain.

A TAP block may be useful when pain appears to come from the abdominal wall itself. Some patients have pain after abdominal surgery. Others have pain near an incision, nerve irritation in the abdominal wall, or pain that worsens with coughing, bending, twisting, tightening the abdominal muscles, or certain movements.

The distinction between abdominal wall pain and deeper abdominal pain is important. A TAP block targets abdominal wall nerves. A celiac plexus block targets a deeper nerve network involved in upper abdominal organ pain. Treating the right layer is part of getting the diagnosis right.

Other Nerve Blocks

Pain medicine includes many different nerve blocks. Some are discussed on other pages because they belong with a more specific condition or region.

Occipital nerve blocks, for example, are often used for certain headache patterns. Medial branch blocks are used when facet joints in the spine may be causing neck or back pain. Selective nerve root blocks may be used when pain follows a specific spinal nerve pathway.

For this page, the main point is simple: a nerve block should be chosen based on the pathway we believe is carrying the pain, not just the general body part that hurts.

Who Are Good Candidates for Nerve Block Injections?

You may be a good candidate for a nerve block if your symptoms suggest that a specific nerve pathway is contributing to your pain.

Patients often come in with burning, shooting, electric, radiating, deep, or difficult-to-localize pain. Some have CRPS symptoms in a leg or foot. Others have pelvic pain, tailbone pain, rectal pain, genital-region pain, abdominal pain, or post-surgical pain that has not responded well enough to other care.

A nerve block may also make sense when the diagnosis is still unclear, and we need more information before moving forward. If a block provides meaningful relief, that response may confirm we are looking in the right direction. If it does not, that can be useful too because it helps us avoid repeating a treatment that does not fit.

You do not need to know which nerve block you need before your visit. Most patients do not. The consultation is where we sort through the symptoms, exam, records, and imaging to decide whether a block makes sense at all.

How I Evaluate You Before Recommending a Nerve Block

Before recommending a nerve block, I want to understand what your pain is doing in the real world. Nerve pain can overlap with muscle guarding, joint pain, spine problems, organ-related pain, scar tissue, inflammation, and prior surgical changes.

During your consultation, I may review:

  • Where the pain starts and where it travels
  • Whether it feels burning, electric, stabbing, sharp, aching, deep, or pressure-like
  • Whether pain changes with sitting, standing, walking, eating, bowel movements, urination, coughing, twisting, or movement
  • Prior surgery, injury, cancer treatment, pelvic conditions, abdominal conditions, or spine history
  • Imaging such as X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or ultrasound when appropriate
  • Numbness, tingling, weakness, temperature changes, color changes, or sensitivity
  • Whether EMG/NCS testing could help clarify nerve involvement
  • Prior medications, injections, therapy, nerve blocks, or procedures
  • How pain affects sleep, work, driving, walking, eating, intimacy, family life, and independence
  • What kind of improvement would actually matter to you


Whenever possible, I prefer to review the actual imaging and records rather than only a short summary. With complex nerve pain, small details can change the treatment plan.

What Happens During a Nerve Block Injection?

The procedure depends on the block being performed. A lumbar sympathetic block, ganglion impar block, superior hypogastric plexus block, celiac plexus block, and TAP block all involve different targets.

Before the injection, I review your history, medications, imaging when needed, and treatment plan. My team will also go over preparation instructions, activity guidance, and what to expect that day.

During the procedure, you are positioned so that the target area can be reached safely. The skin is cleaned, and local anesthetic may be used to numb the area. I then use fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance when appropriate to guide the needle toward the intended nerve pathway.

After the medication is placed, you may be monitored for a short time before going home. You will receive instructions about activity, medications, and what symptoms to watch for afterward.

Why Choose VIPS for Nerve Block Injections?

Nerve blocks require careful target selection. A small difference in the suspected pain source can change which block is appropriate, whether image guidance is needed, and how we interpret the result.

When you choose VIPS, you can expect:

I am double board-certified in PM&R and interventional pain management. My PM&R training helps me understand movement, function, rehabilitation, and the daily impact of pain. My interventional training allows me to perform targeted pain procedures when they are appropriate. In addition to my double-board certification, my certification as a Life Care Planner reflects advanced training in assessing long-term medical and rehabilitation needs. This expertise allows me to provide a comprehensive perspective when evaluating future care needs and serving as a medical-legal consultant and expert medical witness.

Nerve pain can overlap with spine pain, joint pain, muscle pain, organ-related pain, post-surgical pain, and vascular or inflammatory conditions. I review the full pattern before recommending a block.

Many nerve blocks are performed with fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance. The guidance method depends on the block, your anatomy, and the clinical need.

The medication, volume, technique, and frequency are chosen based on the target, diagnosis, prior response, and treatment plan.

Pelvic, rectal, genital, abdominal, tailbone, and CRPS-related pain can be difficult to describe. My role is to listen carefully, ask clear questions, and make the conversation feel as straightforward as possible.

I want to know whether pain is limiting sitting, walking, sleeping, working, driving, eating, intimacy, physical therapy, or basic daily routines. These details help define what meaningful relief would look like.

If a nerve block makes sense, I will explain why. If medication management, physical therapy, imaging, EMG/NCS testing, spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency ablation, surgery, or another specialist is more appropriate, I will tell you directly.

Many patients come to VIPS after feeling dismissed, rushed, or unsure where to turn. I want you to feel informed, respected, and comfortable asking questions before treatment.

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What Should You Expect After a Nerve Block?

Your response depends on the block, the medication used, the diagnosis, and your body’s reaction. Some patients notice relief quickly because of the local anesthetic. If anti-inflammatory medication is used, improvement may take longer.

You may feel soreness, pressure, bruising, warmth, numbness, heaviness, or temporary changes in the treated area depending on the specific procedure. I will explain what is expected for your block before you leave.

How Long Do Nerve Block Results Last?

Nerve block results vary. A diagnostic block may only provide relief for a short period of time. Other blocks may reduce pain for days, weeks, or longer.

Each block has its own expectations. A lumbar sympathetic block for CRPS is different from a ganglion impar block for tailbone or perineal pain. A superior hypogastric plexus block for pelvic pain is different from a celiac plexus block for upper abdominal pain or a TAP block for abdominal wall pain.

For some patients, the most important benefit is pain relief. For others, it is the information the block provides. Relief can also create a window where therapy, sleep, walking, sitting, or ordinary daily activity becomes more tolerable.

How Nerve Blocks Factor Into Your Overall Treatment Plan

Depending on your condition, your plan may include medication management, physical therapy, desensitization, pelvic floor therapy, rehabilitation planning, imaging, EMG/NCS testing, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation evaluation, or coordination with another specialist.

If the pain is traveling through a nerve pathway we can target, a block may be useful. If the pain is coming from severe compression, infection, an unstable joint, an organ-related condition, or a surgical issue, another direction may make more sense.

At VIPS, I take time to review your symptoms, exam findings, records, prior treatment response, and daily limitations before recommending care. A nerve block should clarify the pain source, reduce pain when possible, and support your ability to function.

Nerve Block Injections in Burbank, CA

VIPS is located in Burbank, CA, in the Magnolia Park neighborhood. The office is designed to feel welcoming and personal, with comfortable seating, warm finishes, and original artwork from patients who are working artists.

I live and work in Burbank, and I care about building a practice where patients feel known, not processed. That matters when pain is complicated, private, or difficult to explain.

We see patients from Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area.

Burbank Nerve Block FAQs

If nerve pain, CRPS, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, tailbone pain, or post-surgical pain is changing how you move through life, a nerve block may help clarify what is happening and what treatment options make sense. To schedule a nerve block consultation in Burbank, CA, call (818) 669-8895 or contact VIPS online today.

Many nerve blocks are performed with image guidance. At VIPS, fluoroscopy or ultrasound may be used to help guide the injection toward the intended nerve pathway. The guidance method depends on the block, anatomy, and clinical need.

Some patients feel relief quickly because of the local anesthetic. If anti-inflammatory medication is used, improvement may take longer. I will explain what to track after the block so we can understand your response.

Relief varies; some diagnostic blocks only last hours, while other blocks may provide relief for days, weeks, or longer. The duration depends on the type of block, medication used, diagnosis, and your body’s response.

Some patients need one block for diagnostic information. Others may need a series if the block provides relief, but symptoms return. I will talk with you about whether repeat treatment makes sense or whether another option should be considered.

Sometimes. A nerve block may reduce pain or clarify the diagnosis enough to support a nonsurgical plan. If your symptoms, imaging, or exam suggest that surgery should be considered, I will explain why.

If a nerve block does not provide meaningful relief, that information still helps. It may mean the pain is coming from another pathway, another diagnosis should be considered, or a different treatment is needed.

The cost of nerve block injections in Burbank can vary depending on the type of block, whether image guidance is used, the procedure setting, and your insurance benefits. During your consultation, my team can help you understand what information may be needed for scheduling, authorization, and cost review.

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