Patient Education Materials

AIPPS Single Nerve Block Injection

Rare side effects

• You may have bleeding from the injection site.
• You may feel numbness lasting longer than 48 hours.
• You may feel numbness around the lips and/or tongue, metallic taste in the mouth, visual disturbances, and ringing in your ears.
• If any of the above occurs OR if you have pain management problems call your surgeon. Call 911 for any emergency situation.

How should I expect to feel?

• The numb feeling you have may last from 12 to 24 hours.
• You may experience weakness or be unable to move the affected extremity for 6 to 8 hours.
• A “pins and needles” sensation may occur. This often happens as the nerve block is wearing off.

How do I care for the affected area?

• Be careful if preparing hot foods or drinks. You want to prevent spills to the affected area.
• If a lower extremity is affected, have help for getting up or walking. Keep your pathway clear.
• Keep pressure or tight clothing away from the affected extremity. Use pillows for support.
• Be careful if applying heat or cold to the affected extremity. Decreased sensation could lead to injury.
• Use splints or devices ordered by your surgeon and check pressure points for redness or irritation because you may not feel this due to decreased sensation.

How do I manage my pain?

• Fill your pain medicine prescriptions on your way home from the hospital whether you have pain at that time or not.
• Take the prescribed pain medicine when the “pins and needles” sensation occurs, or before going to bed for the night.                           

Reviewed February 2012