Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Block Treatment in India

Navya Shah, a 42-year-old software project...

Navya Shah, a 42-year-old software project manager and mother of two, had been living with debilitating chronic right lower abdominal pain for over three years following an open appendectomy. The pain was a sharp, burning sensation that radiated into her groin and upper thigh, severely limiting her ability to sit for long periods at work or play with her children. Extensive workups, including CT scans and laparoscopies, found only dense scar tissue (adhesions) entrapping the ilioinguinal nerve. After trying physical therapy, gabapentin, and multiple nerve-targeted injections with only temporary relief, her surgical gastroenterologist, Dr. Mehta, recommended a diagnostic and potentially therapeutic Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block. He explained it would use ultrasound guidance to deliver precise local anesthetic to the nerves, confirming the diagnosis if her pain vanished and potentially providing longer-term relief if combined with a steroid. Anxious but hopeful for a solution, Navya underwent the 30-minute procedure, feeling only slight pressure. The immediate, complete numbness in her painful area was profoundly emotional, it was the first pain-free moment she could remember in years. While the anesthetic wore off after 8 hours, the steroid's effect led to a 70% reduction in her baseline pain over the following week. This 'diagnostic success' confirmed the nerve entrapment, paving the way for her to confidently schedule a definitive surgical neurectomy. The block transformed her outlook from one of hopelessness to one of having a clear, actionable path forward.