Peripheral nerve injections
The most common peripheral nerve blocks are of the intercostal nerves (between the ribs), ilioinguinal and/or genitofemoral nerves for groin pain, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for upper thigh pain, and greater and lesser occipital nerve injections for headaches in the back of the head. However, chronic nerve irritation may occur with any nerve post surgery. As examples, intercostal injections may be required for post thoracotomy pain, and ilioinguinal and/or genitofemoral nerve injections may be required for post hernia repairs or other lower abdominal incisions. Intercostal nerve injections are also performed for treatment of post herpetic neuralgia. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks are done for people with a condition called meralgia paresthetica (pain on the front of your thigh). This is typically the result of a nerve entrapment from wearing too tight of a belt or in obese people with the abdomen hanging over the waist line, and sometimes can occur during pregnancy or delivery of a baby. Entrapment of nerves can occur with almost any peripheral nerve for a variety of reasons. Most of the peripheral nerves are amenable to a local anesthetic/steroid injection.