Brief Answer:
Hard to predict duration of blocks in any given person

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your CHALLENGING question.

NERVE BLOCK- An injection placed at a location of where a nerve or group of nerves is known to exist which supply sensation to a particular part of the body. This is what is done frequently at the dentist's office.

As you can imagine the answer to your question, though very reasonable and common, is very difficult to answer accurately simply because the duration of analgesic medication given in the form of an injection into the spine is highly dependent upon a number variables...some of which can change from VISIT TO VISIT in the same patient let alone different patients.

However, as a neurologist who sees many chronic pain patients who are getting injected the average duration of relief from nerve blocks is said to be on the order of 4-8 weeks. However, I've had patients who have told me that in as little as 2 weeks the effects started wearing off and I've had patients who've said that up to 6 months they've still had very good relief going and were able to perform daily tasks. It's very dependent upon the person, the INJECTOR, the type of medication that is used and whether injections are placed with fluoroscopic guidance (use of X-ray to help the injector more precisely locate the site of interest) or simply placed blindly based upon external anatomic landmarks.

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