A lumbar sympathetic block procedure is an advanced minimally invasive treatment designed for diagnosing and relieving chronic pain originating from the sympathetic nervous system.

This system is part of our body's involuntary nervous system, responsible among other things for regulating blood flow and certain pain sensations in the lower body, including the legs and specific areas in the pelvis and lower abdomen. The procedure is particularly suitable for patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following an injury or surgery in the leg, pain stemming from blood flow problems (such as ischemia) in the lower limbs, and sometimes for pain from various sources in pelvic organs. The goal of the procedure is to temporarily "interrupt" pain conduction in these nerves by injecting an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory agent, thereby allowing significant pain relief and sometimes even breaking the chronic pain cycle.

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The procedure is performed in an interventional radiology suite under sterile conditions. The patient lies on their abdomen, and following local anesthesia and mild sedation, the specialist physician inserts a thin, delicate needle in the lower back (lumbar) area. Needle insertion is done under precise real-time guidance of imaging means, usually X-ray fluoroscopy or CT, to ensure the needle reaches exactly the sympathetic nerve chain located at the front of the lumbar spine, without damaging adjacent organs. After verifying needle position using contrast medium, a mixture of local anesthetic and steroids is injected. The entire procedure typically takes less than an hour, after which the patient remains for short observation before being discharged home.