Understanding Nerve Hydrodissections: A Minimally Invasive Option for Nerve Pain

If you’ve been living with persistent nerve-related pain like carpal tunnel syndrome or nerve entrapments in the elbow, knee, or foot you may have been told your only options are rest, medications, or surgery. But there’s a powerful and minimally invasive treatment that can offer both immediate and long-lasting relief. It’s called nerve hydrodissection.

This is one of my favorite procedures because of how effective it can be.

What Is Nerve Hydrodissection?

Nerve hydrodissection is a non-surgical technique that uses ultrasound guidance to precisely inject fluid around a nerve in order to free it from surrounding tissues. The goal is twofold

1. Mechanically separate the nerve from structures it may be adhered to like tendons or ligaments

2. Deliver a healing solution such as platelet-rich plasma to reduce inflammation and promote nerve repair

Take carpal tunnel syndrome for example. Traditional treatments may include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, wrist splints, or ultimately surgery to cut the ligament that compresses the median nerve. While that surgery can help, it comes with risks such as scar tissue formation and complications that may follow.

Instead, with nerve hydrodissection, we use ultrasound to guide a small needle into the carpal tunnel and inject a healing fluid like PRP around the irritated median nerve. This carefully creates more space for the nerve and helps reduce the inflammation that causes numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.

Why It Works

The success of this procedure lies in its dual benefit.

It physically separates the nerve from surrounding tissues where inflammation may have caused it to become adhered. At the same time, the injection provides biological support, offering growth factors that reduce swelling and support the nerve's ability to heal.

Without intervention, irritated nerves often become more inflamed and swollen over time. This leads to a cycle of pain and dysfunction. Nerve hydrodissection helps stop that cycle by restoring healthy space around the nerve and reducing the pressure and irritation.

Where Can It Be Used?

Nerve hydrodissection can be used throughout the body on any peripheral nerve. Some of the most common and effective treatment areas include

• Cubital tunnel syndrome, where the nerve is compressed near the elbow

• Nerve entrapments around the foot or ankle, sometimes misdiagnosed as other conditions like plantar fasciitis

• Knee pain, especially around a small nerve called the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. This nerve can become irritated in cases of arthritis, MCL injuries, or meniscus damage. Even when joint treatments are helping, this small nerve may continue to cause discomfort unless addressed directly

By releasing these nerves from inflamed or scarred tissues and bathing them in healing fluid, we can often relieve pain that has been resistant to other forms of treatment.

Could This Help You?

If you’ve been receiving treatment for joint pain but continue to experience lingering discomfort, there may be a nerve component that is being overlooked.

We offer free 15-minute discovery calls to discuss your symptoms, review your case, and determine whether nerve hydrodissection is the right option for you.

Call the office to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward real relief. We are here to help you get back to living and moving comfortably.