After Upper Peripheral Nerve Block

You had an upper peripheral nerve block. Your health care provider injected a small amount of anesthetic (numbing medicine) in the area near your nerve to block the pain signals being sent to your brain. Sometimes your provider may inject a small amount of steroid too. The purpose of this procedure is to help you deal with pain after your surgery.
If you had a nerve block catheter with an OnQ pump, you were blocked with a large amount of medication that is two times stronger than the medication in your pump. As you recover, follow the instructions below.

Activity

• Do not drive or use heavy equipment. You will need someone else to drive you home.
• Take it easy the rest of the day.
• Do not lift heavy objects. Do not do any pulling and pushing activities.

Home Care

• It is normal to have tingling, weakness or no feeling to your arm or shoulder. These feelings are normal and are only for a short time. The feeling will return when your block has worn off. You will know when your block is wearing off when your fingers start to tingle. You may also have a warm feeling, tingling, or weakness. This can last 1 - 3 days after the procedure.
• When your block starts to wear off, start taking your pain medication.
• It is normal to have pain or tenderness at the injection site. You can use ice today to help ease the pain. If the pain continues tomorrow, you can use ice or moist heat to help the pain. Follow these instructions:
  • Put ice or moist heat to the injection site for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the ice or moist heat for 20 minutes.
  • Repeat this process as needed.

When to call your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have:

• Weakness or numbness that lasts more than 24 hours

• Increased pain

Call your provider if you have signs of an infection:

• Fever above 100.4°F (38.0°C)

• Chills

• Increasing redness, tenderness, or swelling at the injection site

• Drainage from the injection

Should you have any concerns about your nerve block, please call East Carolina Anesthesia at:
Vidant SurgiCenter: 252-847-7700
Vidant SurgiCenter after 4:00pm, weekends, holidays: 252-847-4501
Type of block: ______________________________

Medicine: __________________________________
Date: _____________________________________

Anesthesiologist: ____________________________