Selective Nerve Root Block in ChennaiTargeted Relief for Sciatica, Arm & Nerve Pain.
When pain shoots from your back down a leg, or from your neck into an arm, it is often a single inflamed nerve root crying out. A Selective Nerve Root Block calms that exact nerve — a quick, image-guided, day-care injection that relieves pain and often helps you avoid surgery.
Dr. Soma Sundar S
MBBS · MS (Ortho) · DNB · FRCS (Tr & Orth) UK · FISS · FESS (Germany) · FMISS (Switzerland)
AO Spine Fellow · Gold Medallist · Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon
A consultation with Dr. Soma Sundar focuses on clarity: which nerve is causing your pain, whether a precise injection can relieve it, what to expect on the day, and how it fits into a plan that helps you recover and stay well — without rushing to surgery.
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Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet
Mon – Sat · 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
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Shens Hospital, Ashok Nagar
Mon – Sat · 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
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Quick Answer: What Is a Selective Nerve Root Block?
A Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB) is a precise, image-guided injection that delivers anti-inflammatory medicine to one specific spinal nerve — the exact nerve generating your pain. It is commonly used to relieve sciatica from a lumbar disc bulge, or arm pain from a pinched nerve in the neck. It is a day-care procedure — you walk in and walk out the same day.
What a Selective Nerve Root Block Actually Does
Picture an irritated nerve root as a frayed electrical wire, sparking pain signals down your leg or arm. A Selective Nerve Root Block bathes that one wire in a small dose of local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid — settling the inflammation and switching off the pain at its source.
What makes it “selective” is precision. The medicine is delivered under live X-ray (fluoroscopy) guidance to a single, named nerve root — not spread blindly over a wide area. That accuracy is what makes it both effective and a useful way to confirm exactly which nerve is to blame.
It is minimally invasive and done as a day procedure under local anaesthetic. There is no surgical cut and no general anaesthetic, which is why most patients are home within hours and back to gentle activity the next day.
🦵 Sciatica
🧲 Lumbar Disc Bulge
🧠 Cervical Disc Bulge
The injection targets one nerve root as it exits the spine — the precise source of sciatica or radiating arm pain.
Who Is a Selective Nerve Root Block For?
An SNRB is most effective when your pain comes from one identifiable, irritated nerve root. Dr. Soma Sundar S recommends it for patients whose symptoms and MRI point clearly to a single nerve — especially as a way to relieve pain without rushing to surgery.
Sciatica From a Disc Bulge
Burning pain shooting from the lower back down the leg, caused by a disc pressing on a nerve root, often responds very well.
Pinched Nerve in the Neck
Pain, tingling or weakness travelling from the neck into the shoulder, arm or fingers — treated with a cervical nerve root block.
Foraminal Narrowing
When the opening where a nerve exits the spine is narrowed by age changes or bone spurs, a targeted block relieves the pressure pain.
When Tablets & Physio Aren’t Enough
If medication and physiotherapy haven’t settled severe nerve pain, an injection can give the relief needed to rehabilitate properly.
Patients Wanting to Avoid Surgery
For many, an SNRB offers lasting relief that helps delay or completely avoid spinal surgery — a less invasive step worth trying first.
Confirming the Painful Nerve
When an MRI shows changes at more than one level, a block at one nerve can confirm whether that nerve is truly the source.
Pain Disturbing Sleep & Work
When nerve pain is severe enough to disrupt sleep, work or daily life, a block can quickly break the cycle and restore function.
Before Considering an Operation
A targeted block can both relieve pain and help plan surgery precisely, by proving which nerve is responsible for the symptoms.
Leg pain (sciatica)
Pain travelling from the back into the leg from a single lumbar nerve root is the classic reason for an SNRB.
Arm pain from the neck
Pain or tingling from the neck into the arm and fingers can be relieved with a cervical nerve root block.
When other care stalls
If tablets and physiotherapy haven’t worked, a precise injection can open a window for recovery.
Signs a Nerve Root Block Could Help You
Your symptom pattern gives strong clues about whether a single nerve is the problem — and whether a targeted block is likely to help.
Pain Down One Leg
Pain travelling from the back into one leg in a clear line often points to a single irritated nerve root — a strong candidate for a block.
Single-nerve pattern
Pain Into the Arm
Sharp or electric pain from the neck to the arm or fingers may suggest a pinched cervical nerve that a block can calm.
Cervical pattern
Tingling & Pins-and-Needles
A fizzing or electric sensation along a defined path of the limb is typical of nerve root irritation.
Nerve irritation
Tablets Not Helping Enough
When painkillers and anti-inflammatories only take the edge off, a targeted injection can reach the problem directly.
Next step
MRI Shows One Clear Level
When the scan matches your symptoms at a single level, a block at that nerve is both precise and effective.
Good candidate
Pain Worse at Night
Nerve pain that disturbs sleep and limits daily life is exactly the kind of pain a block is designed to interrupt.
Quality-of-life
After Your Injection — When to Call Us
Serious problems after a nerve root block are rare. But a few warning signs need prompt attention, so you know exactly what to look out for.
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Fever, chills, or spreading redness, swelling or discharge at the injection site.
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New or worsening weakness in the arm or leg, rather than the expected pain relief.
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A severe headache that is much worse when sitting or standing up.
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Numbness that is spreading or significantly worse than before the procedure.
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Any difficulty passing urine, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
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Persistent bleeding from the injection site that does not settle with light pressure.
A note on what is normal
Mild soreness at the site, and a short flare of your usual pain for a day or two as the local anaesthetic wears off before the steroid takes effect, are both expected and not a cause for concern. For the warning signs above, do not wait — contact the clinic on +91 90809 68066, or seek urgent care.
How a Selective Nerve Root Block Is Done
The whole visit is usually over within an hour or two, and the injection itself takes only a few minutes. Here is exactly what happens — so there are no surprises.
1
Confirm the target nerve
Dr. Soma Sundar reviews your symptoms and MRI once more, confirms which nerve root is responsible, and answers your questions.
2
Numb the skin
You lie comfortably while a small amount of local anaesthetic numbs the skin. Most people feel only a brief sting. No general anaesthetic is needed.
3
Place the needle under live X-ray
Using fluoroscopy, a fine needle is guided precisely to the target nerve root. A tiny amount of contrast dye confirms the exact position.
4
Deliver the medicine & rest
The anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory medicine are delivered around the nerve. After a short observation, you go home the same day.
Live X-ray guidance lets the medicine reach the exact nerve with millimetre accuracy — safer and more effective than a blind injection.
Why Choose Dr Soma Sundar
Precision You Can Trust for Your Spine
An injection is only as good as the surgeon placing it. The focus is to relieve your pain accurately, protect your nerves, and use the procedure as part of a complete plan — not a quick fix.
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Pinpoint accuracy: Live X-ray guidance places medicine on the exact nerve causing your pain.
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International training: Fellowship-trained across the UK, Germany and Switzerland in modern spine care.
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Surgery not rushed: A block is offered as a less invasive step that often helps avoid an operation.
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A full plan, not just an injection: Combined with rehabilitation and honest follow-up advice.
Before, During & After Your Injection
From your first consultation to your follow-up review, here is the complete journey — so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
Step 1 · Before
Preparation & Planning
Everything starts with pinpointing the exact nerve responsible. That accuracy is what makes the procedure both safe and effective.
- Clinical assessment to match symptoms to the affected nerve
- MRI and X-ray review to confirm the target level
- Discussion of benefits, expectations and questions
- Simple prep — usually no fasting unless sedation is planned
- Arrange for someone to drive you home afterwards
Step 2 · During
The Injection Itself
You stay awake throughout. After the skin is numbed, a fine needle is guided to the nerve under live X-ray and the medicine delivered.
- Performed under live fluoroscopy for pinpoint accuracy
- Local anaesthetic numbs the skin — only a brief sting
- Contrast dye confirms position before medicine is given
- Anaesthetic plus anti-inflammatory steroid to the nerve
- No general anaesthetic and no surgical incision
Step 3 · After
Recovery & Results
The relief opens a window to rebuild strength and address the cause. Dr. Soma Sundar reviews your progress and plans your next steps.
- Home the same day — no overnight stay
- Relief often felt within a few days, lasting weeks to months
- Gentle activity next day; avoid heavy strain for 24–48 hours
- Guided physiotherapy to strengthen and protect the spine
- Follow-up review; the block can be repeated if helpful
A gentle note about injections
A Selective Nerve Root Block is a bridge, not a destination. Its lasting value comes when the pain relief is used to return to movement and rehabilitation. It is never given in isolation — Dr. Soma Sundar uses it as one part of a complete plan, alongside honest guidance on whether any further treatment is ever needed.
Aftercare Do’s and Don’ts
A few simple choices in the first day or two help you get the most from your nerve root block.
✅ Do These
- Rest quietly for the remainder of the day after your injection
- Arrange for someone to drive you home
- Use a cold pack briefly if the injection site feels sore
- Resume gentle walking and light activity the next day
- Start your guided physiotherapy once the pain settles
- Keep a simple note of how your pain changes over the next week
🚫 Avoid These Initially
- Driving for the rest of the day, or while you feel unsteady
- Strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for 24–48 hours
- Soaking the injection site in a bath, pool or sea on day one
- Expecting full relief immediately — the steroid builds over days
- Stopping prescribed medicines without checking with the clinic
- Ignoring fever, spreading weakness or bladder/bowel changes
Frequently Asked Questions About Selective Nerve Root Block
Most patients feel only a brief sting as the skin is numbed with local anaesthetic. The injection itself takes a few minutes and is usually far more comfortable than expected. You stay awake and go home the same day.
It varies. Many patients feel meaningful improvement within a few days that lasts from several weeks to many months. For some it calms the nerve long enough to recover completely. If helpful, the injection can be safely repeated.
In many cases, yes. By calming the inflamed nerve, an SNRB often gives the body the window it needs to recover with physiotherapy — helping many patients delay or avoid spinal surgery altogether.
It is a very safe, minimally invasive day-care procedure when performed by an experienced spine specialist under live X-ray guidance. Dr. Soma Sundar S uses fluoroscopy to place the medication with millimetre precision, keeping risk to a minimum.
Most patients rest for the remainder of the day and resume light activity the next day. Strenuous activity and driving are usually avoided for 24 to 48 hours, after which a guided return to exercise and physiotherapy is encouraged.
A Selective Nerve Root Block targets one specific nerve root with great precision, while an epidural injection spreads medicine over a broader area of the spine. The SNRB is ideal when the pain comes from a single, identifiable nerve.
There is no fixed lifetime limit, but injections are spaced apart and used judiciously. Dr. Soma Sundar S recommends them as part of a wider treatment plan rather than a repeated standalone fix, and will advise on safe spacing for you.
Yes. A cervical nerve root block can relieve pain, tingling or weakness that travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm or fingers, using the same precise, image-guided technique.
Yes. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic while you are awake. No general anaesthetic is needed, which is one reason recovery is so quick and you can go home the same day.
Dr. Soma Sundar S performs image-guided nerve root blocks at Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet (Mon–Sat, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM) and Shens Hospital, Ashok Nagar (Mon–Sat, 5:30–8:00 PM), Chennai, by appointment. Call or WhatsApp +91 90809 68066 to book.
What Patients Say After Nerve Root Block Treatment
For months a sharp pain shot from my back down my right leg and I could not even walk to the temple. I was terrified of surgery. Doctor explained one nerve was the problem and suggested the injection. Within a few days the leg pain was almost gone.
★★★★★VVenkatesan IyerSciatica · Mylapore
My desk job left me with terrible nerve pain and tablets were not helping. The doctor showed me my MRI and said one targeted injection should work. It was quick and far less scary than I imagined. I was back at work without missing much time.
★★★★★DDeepa RaghavanNerve root block · Adyar
Standing for long hours at site had become impossible because of leg pain. Dr Soma Sundar pinpointed the exact nerve and did the block under X-ray. The relief let me start physiotherapy properly, and now I am back to full work.
★★★★★AAnand KrishnanDisc bulge · Velachery
My pain was different — it ran from my neck into my arm and fingers. He explained it was a nerve in my neck and did a cervical nerve root block. The arm pain reduced dramatically and I avoided the surgery I was dreading.
★★★★★KKavitha RajanCervical nerve block · Porur
Video Consultation Before Your Injection
If you are outside Chennai, unable to travel because of nerve pain, or want a first opinion before visiting, a video consultation can help you understand your symptoms, MRI report and whether a nerve root block is right for you.
📄Share reports before the call
MRI, X-ray, prescriptions and previous treatment details can be reviewed in context.
🧲MRI explanation in simple language
Understand which nerve is causing your pain, and whether a targeted injection is likely to help.
🧘Practical, honest plan
Guidance on the procedure, recovery, physiotherapy and whether you need to visit in person.
💬 Book Video Consultation
📞 Call Clinic
Dr. Soma Sundar S
Spine & Orthopaedic Specialist
Online consultation available
1
Send your symptoms and MRI / X-ray reports
2
Get a clear review and whether a block suits you
3
Receive a treatment and follow-up plan
ℹ️ Progressive weakness, spreading numbness, bladder/bowel changes or fever need direct hospital evaluation, not only video consultation.
Dr. Soma Sundar S
MBBS · MS (Ortho) · DNB · FRCS (Tr & Orth) UK · FISS · FESS · FMISS · AO Spine Fellow · Gold Medallist
A single focused consultation can tell you which nerve is causing your pain, whether a Selective Nerve Root Block is the right step, and exactly what to expect — including whether surgery will ever be needed.
Sciatica or arm pain should not become something you simply live around. There is almost always a clear, less invasive path forward when the diagnosis is precise.
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Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet
Mon – Sat · 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM · By appointment
Shens Hospital, Ashok Nagar
21/40 Mettupalayam, 11th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600083 · 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
