Suprascapular Nerve Block is a simple and safe treatment to provide relief from various types of shoulder pain due to degenerative conditions, rotator cuff injuries, or trauma.

In today’s world, shoulder pain is one of the most common problems affecting individuals, as it can severely limit mobility. When a normal shoulder pain converts into chronic pain, and it’s not getting relieved with medication or physiotherapy, then the Suprascapular Nerve Block (SSNB) provides significant relief. This procedure targets the suprascapular nerve, one of the main sensory nerves of the shoulder, which helps reduce pain and improve mobility.

Suprascapular Nerve Block: Basically, A Suprascapular Nerve Block is an injection therapy that is designed to block the pain signals from the suprascapular nerve. It involves injecting a mixture of local anesthetic and low-dose corticosteroids around the nerve, which provides pain relief and can act as a bridge between definitive regenerative therapies like Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP), which can be performed later.

This nerve supplies over 70% of the sensory fibers to the shoulder joints, and makes it a target to control pain. This technique of nerve block is performed by the pain specialists, orthopedic surgeons, or anesthesiologists under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance.

In this blog, we’ll go through the related topics of A suprascapular nerve block.

How Is The Procedure of The Suprascapular Nerve Block Performed?

The procedure of the suprascapular nerve is usually done under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance for precise targeting. It is a quick and safe technique that can be done by the pain specialists and anesthesiologists. This technique is commonly used for those who are suffering from Frozen shoulder( adhesive capsulitis), Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, postoperative shoulder pain ( after surgery or any injury), shoulder bursitis, and post-stroke shoulder pain.

Here are the procedure details:

1. Patient Preparation: The patient should be seated or lying, and the shoulder area should be sanitized to maintain a germ-free environment.
2. Imaging guidance: The doctors use ultrasound and fluoroscopy to locate the suprascapular notch.
3. Needle Insertion: A fine, sterile needle is carefully inserted towards the identified site, and the position is verified by using real-time imaging.
4. Injection: When the correct placement is confirmed, the doctor injects the chosen medication, whether it is a local anesthetic or a mixture of local anesthetic and a corticosteroid.
5. Observation: Once all the processes have been done, the patient is monitored for 15-30 minutes for any immediate reactions.

Benefits of Suprascapular Nerve Block

There are various benefits of using the suprascapular nerve block technique. Here, we will discuss some of them:

• Rapid Pain Relief: By blocking the suprascapular nerve, the pain transmission to the brain is immediately stopped, and provides instant relief and comfort
• Improve Shoulder Mobility: This technique decreases the pain and allows smooth motion and better participation in other work and activities.
• Minimally Invasive: This technique is a simple injection-based procedure, with no incision, no downtime, and minimal discomfort.
• Long-Lasting Effect: Having this procedure provides you with relief that lasts months to years.
• Reduces Painkiller Dependence:  Having this simple injection procedure can reduce the consumption of other oral medications.
• Diagnostic Value: When pain relief occurs, it confirms the shoulder joint as the pain source, which helps to guide further treatment. 
• Extended Pain management: If one gets good relief with the block and cannot undergo any definitive treatment for shoulder pain, then radiofrequency ablation of the nerve can be performed for lasting relief subsequently.

Possible Side Effects of Suprascapular Nerve Block

The Suprascapular Nerve Block is the best technique to get rid of shoulder pain, as it provides instant relief. Generally, this technique is safe, mild, and has temporary side effects. Usually, all side effects are short-lived, and complications are extremely rare when it’s performed by qualified professionals.

 Some common and minor side effects of this  procedure are:

• Slight pain or bruising at the injection site
• Mild numbness or tingling
• Temporary shoulder weakness
• Rare infection or allergic reaction

Read More: Shoulder Pain- Causes and Condition-Specific Treatment

Conclusion

The Suprascapular Nerve Block is a safe and efficacious treatment for chronic shoulder pain, in degenerative disease, and arthritis.  It is a minimally invasive treatment that helps to relieve shoulder pain. This injection procedure is a proven, safe, and effective treatment for various shoulder pain conditions. If you are struggling with shoulder pain that limits your daily life, then consult a pain specialist to determine whether a suprascapsular nerve block is right for you or not.