Procedure Description
A cluneal nerve block is a minimally invasive injection used to diagnose and treat pain caused by entrapment or irritation of the cluneal nerves—a group of small sensory nerves that run across the lower back, buttocks, and upper hip area. These nerves can become compressed or inflamed, resulting in persistent, localized pain that is often mistaken for sciatica, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or lumbar disc disease.
The block involves the injection of local anesthetic and sometimes corticosteroid near the cluneal nerves to provide immediate and longer-term pain relief.
What It Treats
Cluneal nerve blocks are used to manage:
Middle cluneal nerve entrapment (MCN)
Superior cluneal nerve entrapment (SCN)
Lower back and buttock pain not responsive to other treatments
Referred pain to the hip or sacroiliac region
Pain that worsens with sitting, standing, or trunk rotation
Cases where pain mimics sacroiliac joint dysfunction or lumbar radiculopathy
This block can also be used diagnostically to confirm whether cluneal nerve entrapment is the source of pain.
How It Is Performed
You will lie face down on a treatment table.
The skin over your lower back or buttock is cleansed and sterilized.
The physician uses anatomical landmarks and/or ultrasound guidance to identify the location of the cluneal nerve branches.
A small needle is inserted near the suspected nerve entrapment site.
A mixture of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected to block the nerve’s pain signals.
The procedure typically takes 10–15 minutes and is done in an outpatient setting.
Multiple cluneal nerves may be treated during the same visit, depending on your pain pattern.
Pre-Procedure Instructions
You may eat and drink normally, unless sedation is planned (rare for this procedure).
Continue your regular medications unless directed otherwise.
Inform your provider if you:
Take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
Have allergies to anesthetics or steroids
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the lower back and buttocks.
What to Expect After the Procedure
You may feel immediate relief from pain due to the anesthetic; this helps confirm that the cluneal nerve is the pain source.
Longer-lasting relief may develop over the next few days if a steroid is used.
Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site is common and temporary.
Avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 24 hours after the procedure.
If successful, the block may be repeated or followed by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS) for longer-term pain control.
Call your provider if you experience:
Severe pain, swelling, or redness
Signs of infection
Numbness or weakness in the legs (rare)
Lasting Relief from Hidden Nerve Pain
At Parkview Pain & Spine, our expert team uses precision-guided cluneal nerve blocks to diagnose and treat this underrecognized source of chronic lower back and buttock pain. If your symptoms haven't responded to standard treatments, this targeted option may be the solution.
👉 Schedule your consultation today to find out if a cluneal nerve block is right for you.