New pain relief method tested for kidney stone surgery

This study tested if adding a multi-day, continuous nerve block could better manage pain after kidney stone removal surgery. Fifty adults having the surgery were randomly assigned to receive either a local anesthetic or a placebo (salt water) through a small catheter near their spine for about two days after surgery. Researchers measured if this continuous method reduced pain severity and the need for opioid painkillers compared to the standard single nerve block injection.