Hypogastric Blocks
Do you suffer from pelvic pain that has failed to improve with time and/or conservative therapy? If so you may be a candidate for this quick and simple treatment option.
Hypogastric Blocks Q&A
What is a Hypogastric Block?
Hypogastric blocks are medication injections that help relieve pelvic pain. The hypogastric plexus is a bundle of nerves near the bottom of your spinal cord. Blocking these nerves can help you stop feeling pain in your pelvis. This procedure can help relieve pelvic pain from cancer, endometriosis, testicles, or other parts of the pelvis.
What are the Benefits?
Hypogastric blocks are simple and relatively painless procedures. Treatments take only minutes to perform and the relief can be exceptional. The procedure can help reduce pelvic pain from the colon, bladder, lower intestines, uterus or ovaries, prostate or testicles, or other parts of the pelvis. Also from endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, radiation injury and cancer in the pelvis.
How Does it Work?
The doctor will numb an area of skin on your back with a local anesthetic. Then, guided by an x-ray, he or she will insert two needles (including a steroid ) into your back, near each hip bone.
Usually, the procedure takes about 30 minutes.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
How long the pain stays away is different for each patient. For some, the relief lasts weeks. For others, the relief lasts years. If the pain returns, you can have another hypogastric plexus block every few months.
When Will I Feel Better?
Positive effects of a hypogastric block can occur within 30 minutes, but for some patients a few hours later.
Is a Hypogastric Block Right for Me?
A hypogastric plexus block may be right for you if you have chronic pelvic pain that does not respond to oral pain medication. We will schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Physicians, to see if this treatment is a good fit for you.