How do you make sure you don't inject a nerve when you do a nerve block?

Symptoms: If the needle starts to enter the nerve, the patient will have immediate nerve type pain, do not inject if this happens, just reposition the needle. It is rare to hit a nerve, but it is possible. Get good training, and ask these questions on your rotations so you can gain for comfort with your skills as you grow and learn. Be sure and get sleep and eat right, med school is stressful enough.

Several ways: Ultrasound visualization is often used to place the needle and a special needle which is attached to an electrical nerve stimulator can also be used for determining appropriate placement. If a needle is actually piercing a nerve it will produce intense pain in the patient.