Hi Christine. Is it a lumbar sympathetic nerve block? If so, I have had many. I have high anxiety and freak out easily, so (since my pain doc knows me so well) they usually give me a little something IV to calm me down. Afterwards I feel silly about getting so worked up, but I just can't help it. I usually feel the needle of local numbing medication and after that, I just feel some pressure. Once they find the nerve under fluoroscope and administer the medication, I feel heat in my foot and over the next 15- 20 minutes pretty much all of my pain is gone. The injection site on my back just gets a little bit sore and this goes away (it is nothing compared to the leg pain which is relieved by the block and it is a good trade off) My first block lasted about an hour and a half to two hours, that was a test block to see if it would work and I went right home afterwards and had a short, pain free nap. Each time I had another block, it lasted a bit longer. I would be sent immediately to physical therapy for a really good workout. The idea there is to disrupt and hopefully break the pain cycle and to maintain function of your limb. I usually feel really good and like I have accomplished something after a good physical therapy workout (tired though). When it wears off (for me) it is gradual. Try not to be sad when it wears off, if it worked then it worked and that means it is still an option for you. Good luck and let me know how it went.

Lisa