They work on brain and spinal cord nerves to achieve a loss of sensation. Anesthetics are medications used to achieve anesthesia, and the specialist administering them is called the anesthesiologist.

There's a treatment helping chronic pain patients by disrupting pain signals in the body from getting to the brain.

At times, we can direct the spinal block to cover the lateral aspect of the chest wall. As part of the multimodal approach, we can use NSAIDs. If there's a contraindication, we can use opioids.

So permanent spinal implants might work even better. Spinal stimulation also might help people with other diseases that affect movement, including ALS and Parkinson's, Mentis says.