Nerve Blocks and Steroid Injections: What’s the Difference?
August 26, 2025
Chronic pain can make everyday activities challenging, affecting everything from your work to your sleep. When conservative treatments like physical therapy, oral medications, or lifestyle changes don’t provide enough relief, doctors may recommend interventional pain management techniques. Two common options are nerve blocks and steroid injections.
At first glance, these treatments may seem similar—they both involve injections, both aim to relieve pain, and both are performed in a clinical setting. However, they work in different ways and are used for different conditions. Understanding how they differ can help you feel more confident discussing treatment options with your healthcare provider.
What Is a Nerve Block?
A nerve block is an injection that targets a specific nerve or group of nerves to block pain signals from traveling to the brain. This procedure uses anesthetic medication (like lidocaine or bupivacaine) to “turn off” the nerve’s ability to transmit pain.
Types of Nerve Blocks:
- Diagnostic Nerve Blocks: Used to confirm which nerve is causing pain. If pain relief follows, it helps the provider identify the source.
- Therapeutic Nerve Blocks: Provide temporary pain relief, often lasting hours to days.
- Prognostic Nerve Blocks: Help predict how effective a longer-lasting treatment, like radiofrequency ablation, might be.
Conditions Treated with Nerve Blocks:
- Facet joint pain in the spine
- Sciatica or nerve-related back pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Migraines and cluster headaches
- Neuropathic pain after surgery or trauma
Benefits of Nerve Blocks:
- Quick pain relief
- Helps identify the root cause of pain
- May guide future treatment decisions
- Minimally invasive with few side effects
What Is a Steroid Injection?
A steroid injection delivers corticosteroid medication directly to an inflamed area, often alongside a small amount of anesthetic. Unlike nerve blocks, which primarily interrupt nerve signaling, steroid injections focus on reducing inflammation that contributes to pain.
Common Types of Steroid Injections:
- Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs): Target spinal nerves and the epidural space to reduce back, leg, or neck pain.
- Joint Injections: Used for arthritis in the knees, hips, or shoulders.
- Bursal or Tendon Injections: Treat pain from bursitis or tendonitis.
Conditions Treated with Steroid Injections:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Tendonitis and bursitis
- Certain sports injuries
Benefits of Steroid Injections:
- Reduces inflammation at the source
- Provides pain relief that can last weeks to months
- Improves mobility and function
- Can delay or prevent the need for surgery
Key Differences Between Nerve Blocks and Steroid Injections
While both treatments can reduce pain, their mechanism, purpose, and duration differ:
- Mechanism of Action
- Nerve Block: Stops nerves from sending pain signals.
- Steroid Injection: Reduces inflammation in tissues and joints.
- Primary Purpose
- Nerve Block: Diagnostic tool or short-term relief.
- Steroid Injection: Long-term reduction of inflammation and pain.
- Duration of Relief
- Nerve Block: Relief often lasts hours to days, though repeated blocks or additional treatments may extend benefits.
- Steroid Injection: Relief may last weeks to months, depending on the condition and individual response.
- Conditions Treated
- Nerve Block: Best for nerve-related pain, headaches, or conditions like CRPS.
- Steroid Injection: Best for inflammatory conditions like arthritis, bursitis, or herniated discs.
- Next Steps in Care
- Nerve Block: Can lead to longer-lasting treatments, like radiofrequency ablation.
- Steroid Injection: May be repeated periodically but often combined with physical therapy or other treatments.
Risks and Considerations
Both procedures are generally safe, but like any medical treatment, they carry some risks.
Nerve Blocks Risks:
- Temporary numbness or weakness
- Infection at the injection site
- Allergic reaction to anesthetic
Steroid Injections Risks:
- Localized pain or swelling after injection
- Elevated blood sugar (especially in diabetic patients)
- Potential weakening of tendons with repeated injections
- Infection (rare but possible)
Your provider will review your medical history and weigh the benefits versus risks before recommending either option.
Choosing the Right Treatment
The decision between a nerve block and a steroid injection depends on:
- Your diagnosis (nerve pain vs. inflammatory pain)
- Your treatment goals (diagnosis, short-term relief, or longer-term inflammation control)
- Your medical history (conditions like diabetes may influence choices)
- Your response to prior treatments
In many cases, nerve blocks and steroid injections are part of a stepwise approach to pain management. For example, a nerve block may first be used diagnostically to confirm the pain source. If confirmed, a steroid injection—or another interventional treatment—may follow.
Final Thoughts
Nerve blocks and steroid injections are both valuable tools in interventional pain management, but they serve different purposes. Nerve blocks work by disrupting pain signals, while steroid injections reduce inflammation at the source.
If you’re considering either option, talk to the providers at Southern Pain and Neurological about your specific condition, medical history, and long-term goals. With the right approach, these treatments can help you regain mobility, improve quality of life, and take meaningful steps toward managing chronic pain.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment for your individual needs.