Chemical Nerve Ablation For Wrist Pain.

Chemical Nerve Ablation (Nerve Destruction):

Procedure is selectively performed using alcohol and phenol to destruct (ablate) irritated or pinched nerve. This treatment is very rarely needed for wrist joint pain.

Indication for Nerve Ablation to Treat Wrist Joint Pain-

·         Chronic Wrist Joint Pain Caused By Nerve Irritation Or Pinched Nerve

·         Pinched Nerve Pain Caused By Wrist Joint Fracture Or Dislocation Not Responding To Pain Medications, Physical Therapy, Corticosteroid Injection And Surgery.

·         Pinch Nerve Pain Following Surgery.

·         Radial, Median or Ulnar Nerve Neuropathy Causing Selective Peripheral Nerve Pain.

Nerve Ablation Techniques-

·         Phenol Injection of Pinched or Irritated Nerve.

·         Alcohol Injection of Pinched or Irritated Nerve.

Diagnosis of Pinched or Irritated Nerve-

·         Pain Specialist Will Conduct Detailed Examination To Diagnose And Evaluate The Nerve Causing Pain.

·         Pinched Or Irritated Nerve Is Identified By Nerve Conduction And Nerve Stimulation Study.

Procedure Notes-

·         Procedure is performed in Out-Patient Surgery.

·         Choice of Treatment Is Discussed With Patient Prior To Surgery.

·         Treatment is performed under Local Anesthesia.

·         Needle is placed over Nerve for Phenol or Alcohol Injection.

·         Phenol Injection for Wrist Joint Pain- Phenol is selectively injected near or over the nerve. Procedure is painful and pain lasts for short period. Phenol destructs peripheral nerve by neurolysis. Procedure is very rarely performed.

·         Alcohol Injection for Wrist Joint Pain- Alcohol is very rarely used. Alcohol injection is very painful and pain lasts for prolonged time. Nerve when regenerate causes severe neuropathic pain.

Complication Following Phenol or Alcohol Injection-

·         Destruction of surrounding soft tissue, since liquid phenol and alcohol spreads rapidly in soft tissue

·         Severe scar tissues are formed because of surrounding soft tissue damage. Chemical inflammation of soft tissue is induced by phenol and alcohol.

·         Nerve regeneration follows severe neuropathic pain

·         Cryo or radiofrequency nerve ablation is preferred over phenol or alcohol injection. Alcohol or phenol spreads over surrounding soft tissue causing severe destruction and scarring.

Contraindication for Wrist Joint Phenol or Alcohol Injection

·         Septic Arthritis

·         Skin Infection

·         Septicemia

·         Allergies to Phenol