Neurolysis involves destroying a nerve to treat pain, often used for cancer patients. It can be done with chemicals, heat, or surgery, but may have side effects. Temporary nerve blocks are an alternative. Insurance coverage may vary.
The term neurolysis almost exclusively refers to the treatment of pain through the destruction of a nerve that is responsible for it. This may have applications in the treatment of several diseases, including chronic pain diseases of the extremities. However, it is most often used as a means of pain control for people with cancer. Even in these cases, the development of more successful nerve block techniques in which a nerve is only temporarily disabled may be preferred.
There are several ways that neurolysis can be performed. One of the most common methods is to inject a chemical into the nerve that will kill it, and the chemical that can be used the most is alcohol. It may be necessary to repeat the injections several times so that the nerve is completely deprived of its ability to function. Heat or radiofrequency can also be used to kill nerves, and in extreme scenarios, a nerve can be surgically removed. The chemical form of neurolysis is often preferred because it is the simplest and most patients tolerate the procedure easily.
Some chronic pain clinics offer neurolysis for other conditions, especially chronic pain conditions that appear to have no definable cure or origin. Using this procedure in any of its forms in a more experimental fashion may not always be something health insurance companies will support. If a patient suffering from a chronic pain condition is advised to use this tactic, she should inquire about the likelihood of an insurance company paying him back. When the ailment being treated stems from cancer, surgery, injections, or other means to destroy a nerve are generally considered fairly standard and therefore coverable.
While destroying a nerve can relieve pain, it can also have some side effects. Especially if the neurolysis occurs near the spine, there is little risk of paralysis, either in the area supplied by the nerve or elsewhere. This risk is thought to be low enough provided an experienced doctor performs the procedure. However, it must be said that the procedure is not risk-free.
There are some alternatives to neurolysis that have become increasingly acceptable. One of these is the temporary blocking of a nerve’s function through anesthesia, in procedures called nerve blocks. This means that more medication may need to be given to the body to continue pain control, but some people prefer this to damage a nerve forever or for a very long time.
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