Neurolysis

Neurolysis may refer to the application of physical agents (heat or freezing) or chemicals (such as phenol, alcohol or glycerol) to a nerve to cause the temporary degeneration of the nerve's fibers in order to interrupt the transmission of nerve signals, usually for pain relief (a neurolytic block). Some authors use the term to denote just chemical neurolytic blocks, and use neurotomy to refer to neurolytic block by heat or freezing; and others use the term to denote the surgical freeing of a nerve from inflamed tissue.