What are medial branch blocks?
Medial branch blocks are used to block the sensory nerve that goes to the spinal facet joints. The facet joints are a common cause of spine related pain. These pains are typically worsened with cold damp weather and movement of the spine, such as standing, walking, and turning in bed. These medial branch blocks are injections performed to help diagnose and/or treat the pain caused by these facet joints. These injections are an accurate and definitive way to diagnose facet joint pain because often the pain from these joints cannot be determined from imaging studies alone.
What is the typical procedure?
You will be asked to lie nearly flat on your stomach. Under local anesthesia, using X-ray guidance, a small needle is positioned along the facet joint nerves (medial branches). A small injection of dye may be used to check positioning. Medication is then injected (long-acting anesthetic). Each injection takes about 15 minutes. Multiple levels on either one or both sides may be performed in the same session depending upon your symptoms.
What will I feel during the injection?
During the procedure you may feel some slight pressure or discomfort. The doctor will be interested in how this discomfort compares to your usual pain symptoms.
When will the pain relief take effect?
You may experience numbness and/or relief from your spine pain for several hours after the injection. This is due to the long-acting anesthetic that was injected. Your usual symptoms may then return. If pain is significantly reduced then we will proceed to the next phase of treatment.
Medial branch blocks are used to block the sensory nerve that goes to the spinal facet joints. The facet joints are a common cause of spine related pain. These pains are typically worsened with cold damp weather and movement of the spine, such as standing, walking, and turning in bed. These medial branch blocks are injections performed to help diagnose and/or treat the pain caused by these facet joints. These injections are an accurate and definitive way to diagnose facet joint pain because often the pain from these joints cannot be determined from imaging studies alone.
What is the typical procedure?
You will be asked to lie nearly flat on your stomach. Under local anesthesia, using X-ray guidance, a small needle is positioned along the facet joint nerves (medial branches). A small injection of dye may be used to check positioning. Medication is then injected (long-acting anesthetic). Each injection takes about 15 minutes. Multiple levels on either one or both sides may be performed in the same session depending upon your symptoms.
What will I feel during the injection?
During the procedure you may feel some slight pressure or discomfort. The doctor will be interested in how this discomfort compares to your usual pain symptoms.
When will the pain relief take effect?
You may experience numbness and/or relief from your spine pain for several hours after the injection. This is due to the long-acting anesthetic that was injected. Your usual symptoms may then return. If pain is significantly reduced then we will proceed to the next phase of treatment.