Preventive / Pre-habilitation Blocks for High-Risk Surgery Patients

Wessex Pain Clinic

Preventive / Pre-habilitation Blocks for High-Risk Surgery Patients

Preventive or pre-habilitation nerve blocks are specialist procedures designed to help patients at prior to surgery. These blocks can reduce the risk of post surgical pain, and enable pre-operative rehabilitation (pre-hab) reducing anaesthetic and other risks. These blocks can reduce pain sensitivity, improve early mobility, and support smoother recovery.

At Wessex Pain Clinic, our consultants in pain medicine provide these treatments as part of a personalised pain management and rehabilitation strategy, working closely with your surgical and physiotherapy teams.

How the Procedure Works

After certain operations — especially joint replacements or repeat surgeries — the nervous system can become overactive, amplifying pain signals and delaying recovery. Preventive nerve blocks aim to calm these pathways before surgery and reduce the risk of chronic pain developing afterwards.

The procedure involves injecting a small amount of local anaesthetic, sometimes combined with anti-inflammatory or nerve-calming medication, around the nerves supplying the surgical area. This may be performed in the days or weeks before surgery (“pre-habilitation”) or immediately before the operation, depending on your case and your surgical team’s plan.

In some cases, longer-acting options such as pulsed radiofrequency may also be considered to extend the duration of benefit.

What Conditions and Surgeries It Can Help With

Pre-habilitation nerve blocks may be suitable for patients preparing for:

Hip surgery – including total hip replacement or revision surgery

Knee surgery – total or partial knee replacement, ligament reconstruction

Shoulder surgery – rotator cuff repair, joint replacement, or complex arthroscopy

Spinal or thoracic surgery – where nerve pain risk is high

Re-operations or procedures in previously painful areas

Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) history or severe pre-operative pain

Your consultant will assess your individual pain risk factors — including previous pain history, sensitivity, and medication use — to decide whether a preventive block may be appropriate.

Aimed Benefits

The aim of pre-habilitation nerve blocks is to:

Reduce immediate post-operative pain intensity

Minimise the need for strong opioid painkillers

Support mobilisation and physiotherapy, both pre and post op.

Reduce the risk of developing chronic post-surgical pain

Improve overall recovery and function

These benefits are achieved by modulating the nervous system’s response to surgical pain before it becomes sensitised.

What to Expect

These procedures are carried out under ultrasound or X-ray guidance to ensure precision. They are usually performed as an outpatient or day-case procedure.

If you prefer or require sedation, this can be arranged when the procedure is performed in theatre, under the care of a consultant anaesthetist. Sedation is not available for procedures done in clinic, but we can plan for this if you would be more comfortable in a theatre setting.

After the injection, you may feel temporary numbness or heaviness in the limb, which typically resolves within a few hours. Your consultant will provide guidance on activity and follow-up.

Driving advice: You should not drive that day if receiving any sedation. Our procedures do vary on whether it is possible to drive home yourself. Please seek advice from your consultant about driving advice. If you are seeing us for an injection and planning to drive, please check with us beforehand about whether it will be possible to drive yourself home afterwards.

Risks and Considerations

All procedures carry some risks, which will be discussed with you in detail before treatment. These may include temporary soreness, bruising, or numbness. You will be given opportunities to answer questions and formal written consent is always gained.

Combined Approach / Multidisciplinary Care

At Wessex Pain Clinic we find that the best results come from combining medical treatments with active rehabilitation. Pre-habilitation nerve blocks are most effective when integrated with physiotherapy, surgical planning, and — where appropriate — psychological support. This comprehensive approach helps manage both the physical and emotional aspects of pain and supports optimal surgical recovery.

Key Points Summary

Consultant-led, image-guided procedure
Targets nerves before high-risk surgery to reduce post-operative pain
May help prevent chronic pain and reduce opioid use
Suitable for hip, knee, shoulder, spinal, and revision surgeries
Sedation available for theatre-based procedures
Works best as part of an integrated prehabilitation and rehabilitation plan

Disclaimer

Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Your consultant will discuss which treatment or combination is most appropriate for you.

At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this.

Wessex Pain Clinic provides consultant-led assessment and treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Our multidisciplinary team includes Consultant Pain Specialists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists, offering evidence-based interventions alongside rehabilitation and self-management support. We welcome patients from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey and Sussex, including Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Chichester – with both in-clinic appointments and remote consultations available across the wider Wessex region.

Marvin Woodrow

One visit and my pain problems have been resolved. Will definitely use again if the need arises. Can recommend Dr. Tom Bloomfield as he is very professional and communicates all aspects of the procedure so that it is understandable.

Jennifer Rudder

Dr Bloomfield is amazing. He has helped me so much. He clearly lives what he does and because of that is truly engaging and listens. I am so pleased with the outcome too, I feel much more myself and have confidence that my issue will become a thing of the past. I highly recommend seeing Dr Bloomfield for any issues you may have with pain.

Evie Cox

I highly recommend Dr Bloomfield at the Wessex Pain clinic! I was referred to Dr Bloomfield after 18 months of unrelenting knee pain which had stopped me from all activities I had previously enjoyed, even simply walking my dog each day. All previous treatments had been unsuccessful in reducing my pain, but Dr Bloomfield recommended trying a nerve block to reduce my pain levels. He was incredibly gentle and compassionate during the procedure and in all consultations, and his approach to managing and treating pain from all different angles in life is refreshing! Two weeks on from the procedure and I have been able to get back to walking my dog daily and I'm very much looking forward to increasing my activity levels again now that my pain levels have dropped so significantly. I can't recommend Dr Bloomfield enough, thank you for giving me back my freedom of movement!

Roger Christie

Dr. Bloomfield was very helpful, kind and considerate. He listened, discussed concerns, explained everything and gave us time, something nowadays one does not always receive. He understood the pain I was experiencing and I am hoping that the treatment options suggested will work in the long term. The clinic itself is well presented and welcoming.

Sarah Clark

I saw Dr Bloomfield this week at Wessex Pain Clinic and was incredibly impressed by both his medical knowledge and communication skills. He was efficient, empathetic, and validating throughout the appointment. I received a copy of his clinic letter just three hours after our consultation, which was outstanding. He also shared some excellent ideas for pain management interventions that felt thoughtful and tailored to my needs. I'm a complex patient with a very complicated medical history. I would thoroughly recommend both Dr Bloomfield and Wessex Pain Clinic to anyone seeking expert and compassionate care.

Jacek Omilian

I’m really grateful to Dr Hyde for her time, clarity, and kindness during my pain management consultation. I came in worried that my ankle pain might be turning into something chronic or more serious. She took my concerns seriously, explained everything in a way I could understand, and helped me feel much more reassured. She combined medical knowledge with real empathy something I really appreciated. I left with a clear plan, including medication advice and practical steps to reduce the risk of long-term pain. This was one of the most helpful and supportive consultations I’ve ever had. Thank you.

Hannah Farrell

My treatment with Dr Hyde was exactly what I needed to help my pain. Incredible, personal service I will defiantly be back.

Wessex Pain Clinic

Dr Matt Stubbs

Consultant in Pain Medicine FRCA FFPMRCA

Dr Eleanor Hyde

Consultant in Pain Medicine FRCA FFPMRCA

Dr Tom Bloomfield

Consultant in Pain Medicine FRCA FFPMRCA

Dr Jo Harding

Consultant in Pain Medicine FRCA FFPMRCA

Wessex Pain Clinics

Preventive / Pre-habilitation Blocks for High-Risk Surgery Patients

Wessex Pain Clinic