What Is Local Anaesthetic Used For?

The medicine blocks nerve signals around the site where it is placed. This reduces pain sensation for a limited period, while pressure or movement may still be noticeable. A clinician may use it on its own for a small procedure or combine it with another medicine, such as a steroid, when treating a painful joint or irritated spinal structure.

Examples include joint injections, nerve-root blocks, facet-joint injections, epidural steroid injections, and procedures around the sacroiliac joint. The injection site and the intended nerve pathway determine how much of the area becomes numb.

Tell the clinician about allergies, previous reactions to anaesthetic, medicines that affect bleeding, pregnancy, and reduced sensation in the area. Follow instructions about eating, driving, and activity. While numbness remains, protect the area from heat, pressure, and accidental injury, and do not test strength beyond the advice you were given.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, facial or throat swelling, widespread hives, fainting, a seizure, or rapidly worsening weakness after an injection. Contact the treating team about persistent numbness, increasing pain, fever, spreading redness, or drainage at the injection site.

Which area will be numbed, and how long might the effect last? Is another medicine being added? What activity restrictions apply, and which symptoms should prompt an urgent call?