About this procedure
Medial branch blocks are a targeted injection procedure used both to diagnose and to treat facet joint pain — a common source of back and neck pain, especially in patients with arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Local anesthetic is injected near the medial branch nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints. If you experience significant pain relief after the block, this confirms the facet joints as your pain source and may qualify you for longer-lasting radiofrequency ablation treatment.
Benefits
- Accurately identifies facet joint as the pain source
- Provides immediate temporary relief
- Guides eligibility for radiofrequency ablation
- Minimally invasive, short procedure
What to expect
The block is typically performed at one or more spinal levels. You will lie on your stomach or side while the physician targets the medial branch nerves. Relief from the local anesthetic is usually felt within minutes. You will be asked to assess your pain level over the next several hours to evaluate the diagnostic result.
Is medial branch blocks right for you?
Schedule a comprehensive evaluation with our team to determine whether this procedure is appropriate for your condition and goals.