Perioperative sciatic nerve block prevents injury-induced changes in rostroventral medulla (RVM) modulation in adulthood. Previous plantar incision was performed at postnatal day (P)3 with perioperative (15-min preincision and at 3 × 2 h intervals) percutaneous sciatic nerve injections of local anesthetic (LA; 40 μl 0.5% levobupivacaine) (P3 incision + sciatic LA, n = 5) or saline (P3 incision + saline, n = 4). At P40, spinal reflex excitability (quantified as the percentage change from baseline in the area under the mechanical stimulus versus electromyographic response relationship) was compared during electrical stimulation of the RVM. After incision with sciatic block, the typical adult response is seen at P40, with facilitation at low-intensity (5, 10, and 20 μA) and inhibition at high-intensity (50, 100, and 200 μA) RVM stimulation. In the incision with saline group, all intensities of RVM stimulation inhibited reflex excitability. Bars = mean ± SEM, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 two-way repeated measures ANOVA with treatment as between-subject and stimulus intensity as repeated within-subject variable followed by Bonferroni post hoc comparisons.