Upstate Orthopedics

  • Upstate OrthopedicsHome
  • Facebook
  • Academics & Research
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Hand Fellowship
  • Spine Fellowship
  • Online Bill Pay
  • (315) 464-4472
  • Request an Appointment Request an Appointment
  • Pre-Check In Appointment Pre-Check In
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Providers
  • Orthopedic Specialties
    • Adult Spine Reconstruction/Care
    • Foot & Ankle
    • General Orthopedics
    • Hand & Wrist
    • Hip & Knee
    • Joint Replacement/Reconstruction
    • Trauma
    • Orthopedic Oncology
    • Pediatric Orthopedics
    • Shoulder & Elbow
    • Sports Medicine
  • Same-Day Programs
    • OrthoNOW!
    • Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic
    • Same-Day Appointment Availability
  • Advanced Orthopedic Services
    • Ambulatory Surgery
    • Arthroscopy
    • Cartilage Restoration
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
    • Injection Therapy
    • MAKOplasty Robotic Surgery
    • Microsurgery
    • Onsite Durable Medical Equipment
    • PRP Therapy
  • Locations
    • Bone & Joint Center
    • Township 5
  • Patient Stories
  • Patient Information
  • Contact Us
  • Watch Video
  • Read Article

Costovertebral Block

Back to Patient Education

Click the white PLAY button to start video.

 

Your ribs are joined to your spine by the costovertebral joints in your upper back.  A variety of conditions can cause pain in this area.  A costovertebral block is a procedure that is used both to diagnose and treat the source of pain and inflammation.  A “block” uses a medication mixture that contains a local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication, such as a steroid medication.  Although the results are not permanent, the long-lasting pain relief affords people the opportunity to participate in physical rehabilitation and enjoy their favorite activities again.

Read more about Costovertebral Block

  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment

Introduction

Your ribs are joined to your spine by the costovertebral joints in your upper back.  A variety of conditions can cause pain in this area.  A costovertebral block is a procedure that is used both to diagnose and treat the source of pain and inflammation.  A “block” uses a medication mixture that contains a local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication, such as a steroid medication.  Although the results are not permanent, the long-lasting pain relief affords people the opportunity to participate in physical rehabilitation and enjoy their favorite activities again.
Back to top

Anatomy

The thoracic spine is located in your chest area.  Twelve bones (vertebrae) make up the thoracic spine.  The ribs are joined on each side of the vertebrae by the costovertebral joints.  The costovertebral joints allow your ribs to move when you breathe.  A disc between each bone allows movement and acts as a shock absorber.

The opening in the center of each bone forms the spinal canal.  Your spinal cord is located within the protective spinal canal.  The spinal cord extends from the brain and is a major part of your nervous system.  The spinal cord does not fill the entire space in the spinal canal.  Spinal nerves extending from the spinal cord travel out of the thoracic spine to exchange nerve signals with your brain about specific parts of your body.  The nerves at the thoracic level travel to the chest, middle back, and arms below the elbows to the fingers, sending information about sensation and movement.  Thoracic level nerves supply your internal organs and the muscles that move the ribs when you breathe.
Back to top

Causes

A costovertebral block is used to relieve pain at a costovertebral joint.  Several conditions may result in pain at the costovertebral joint, including injury, structural weakness, rib dysfunction syndromes, and rarely, a ruptured (herniated) disc.
Back to top

Symptoms

Conditions affecting the costovertebral joint can cause aching pain in the upper back or pain that spreads to the arms or throughout the ribs to the chest.  You may experience muscle spasms in your upper back.
Back to top

Diagnosis

Your doctor will examine you and conduct tests to determine the cause of your thoracic back pain.  Imaging tests, lab tests, and nerve studies may be used to provide your doctor with more information.  A costovertebral block is used to diagnose the source of pain.  As a diagnostic tool, anesthetic medication is placed in a suspected joint.  If the medication relieves the pain, then the joint has successfully been identified as the source of the problem. Costovertebral blocks are also used as a treatment by providing  anti-inflammatory steroid medication for long-term pain relief.
Back to top

Treatment

Costovertebral blocks are short outpatient procedures.  Before you receive the costovertebral block, you will put on a gown and be positioned lying face down.  Your upper back area will be sterilized and numbed with an anesthetic.  You may receive relaxation medicine before the procedure begins.

Your doctor will use a live X-ray image (fluoroscopy) to carefully insert and guide the needle to the costovertebral joint.  A contrast dye is used to confirm the needle placement.  Next, the medication solution is delivered to the costovertebral joint, and the needle is removed.

You will be monitored for several minutes before you can return home.  It is common to experience an initial slight increase in pain, followed by pain relief after several days.  Most people are able to resume regular daily activities the day after the procedure.  Although costovertebral blocks do not offer permanent pain relief, they can provide long-term pain relief to allow you to participate in physical therapy.
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on April 13th, 2016. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

Satisfaction Survey
Satisfaction Survey
Tell us what you think! tell us what you think!

Patient Education

Our award-winning library has more than 200 conditions and treatments!

More


  • Online Bill Pay Online Bill Pay

  • MyChart MyChart

  • Request an Appointment Request an Appointment
  • Home
  • OrthoNOW! of Syracuse
  • Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic
  • Bone & Joint Center
  • Township 5
  • Academics & Research
  • News
  • Satisfaction Survey
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Our Providers
  • Bone & Joint Center
  • Patient Stories
  • Just for Patients
  • Non Discrimination Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Orthopedic Specialties
  • Adult Spine Reconstruction/Care
  • Foot & Ankle
  • General Orthopedics
  • Hand & Wrist
  • Hip & Knee
  • Joint Replacement/Reconstruction
  • Orthopedic Trauma
  • Orthopedic Oncology
  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Shoulder & Elbow
  • Sports Medicine
  • Same-Day Programs
  • OrthoNOW! of Syracuse
  • Same-Day Appointment Availability
  • Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic
  • Advanced Orthopedic Services
  • Ambulatory Surgery
  • Arthroscopy
  • Cartilage Restoration
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
  • Injection Therapy
  • MAKOplasty Robotic Surgery
  • Microsurgery
  • Onsite Durable Medical Equipment
  • PRP Therapy

6620 Fly Road, Suite 100
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Phone: (315) 464-4472
Fax: (315) 464-5222

Copyright © Upstate Orthopedics. All rights reserved

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Upstate Orthopedics, our orthopedic surgeons provide treatment for patients with chronic pain due to sports injury, job related injury, auto accident or other orthopedic conditions. Experienced neck, back and spine surgeons specialize in the management of scoliosis, whiplash, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, spinal cord tumors and other spinal deformities. Our foot and ankle specialists find solutions for common sports injuries, shin splints, flat foot, plantar fasciitis, diabetic foot as well as bunion, claw toe, hammertoe. Upstate Orthopedics has a full staff of orthopedic hand and wrist microsurgeons with experience providing relief for carpal tunnel syndrome, flexor or extensor tendon injury, bite injury and congenital deformities that require specialized training. We also have shoulder, elbow, hip and knee joint replacement specialists providing treatment for rotator cuff tear, ligament strain, arthritis, congenital deformities, hip fracture and more. We have a dedicated oncology team to help you fight cancer, tumor, metastatic disease and improve quality of life. Parents trust our pediatric specialists to care for their young children, athletes, students, family and friends. Convenient on-site x-ray, MRI, CT scan, casting and splinting, wound care, physical therapy, pain relief treatments and outpatient surgery from world-class medical staff serving Onondaga County and surrounding counties in Central New York.