Phenol nerve blocks for spasticity (1232)
Key points below
What is Ethyl alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol is a medicine that helps muscles relax. It has been used to treat tight muscles for many years.
- Nerves have a coating that helps send messages to muscles quickly.
- Ethyl alcohol is injected (a shot) around the nerve. It un-coats the part of the nerve so a little branch of the nerve will die back.
- This helps the messages to the muscles travel slower. The muscle is more relaxed right away.
- After about 6 months the effect of the Ethyl alcohol wears off and the nerve re-grows.
Ethyl alcohol nerve blocks are often approved by insurance and Medicaid.
How is it used and what can it do?
Ethyl alcohol works best for big muscles like the biceps, hip adductors, knee flexors, and gastrocs. It may help to:
- Make it easier to stretch tight muscles.
- Relax tight muscles so that other muscles can get stronger.
- Allow better control over muscles so your child may be able to learn a new skill.
- Make braces fit better.
- Make it easier to dress, move, or help your child take part in activities.
- Possibly eliminate or postpone other surgeries.
- Improve overall function.
How is it given?
Your child has to be very still for the shot. The medicine burns when it goes in. Most children will get pain medicine and medicine to sedate them for the procedure. This can be done in day surgery or at the surgery center.
Ethyl alcohol has to be injected close to the nerve. This makes it harder to give than botulinum toxin. A small stimulator is used to find the nerve to guide the shot. The doctor is careful to inject the smallest amount needed.
What will my child feel?
- The Ethyl alcohol causes a burning feeling. These feelings should go away in 1 to 2 days. Children normally take over the counter pain medicine for the pain.
- Sometimes the medicine gets close to a feeling nerve. After a week or so the child is sensitive on the forearm or bottom of the feet. If this happens, it is easily treated with medicine. Please contact your doctor right away.
The muscles should not be firmly pulled or stretched in the first week to ten days. Doing so could cause a strain injury. Please keep doing the gentle stretching.
Call: Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Nurse Line 414-266-6631 with any questions.