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What is local anesthesia?
Local anesthesia uses medicine (anesthetics) to block pain from a part of the body. The medicine affects only the area near where the medicine was injected or applied.
How is local anesthesia done?
Anesthesia medicines are usually given by injection into the area that needs to be numbed. They may also be applied onto the skin or mucus membranes as a liquid or gel or given as eyedrops. This is called topical anesthesia.
Local anesthesia: When to call
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You are having problems, such as a rash in the area that was numbed.
- You are not getting better as expected.
How can you care for yourself after local anesthesia?
- Follow all instructions from your doctor about how to take care of the area that was numbed.
- Be careful not to injure the area while it's still numb.
- If you move the area, move it slowly and carefully.
- Be careful with hot and cold. Since you won't feel pain, it's easier for damage from heat or cold to happen.
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