A medial branch block is a diagnostic treatment that temporarily blocks pain signals coming from the medial nerves that run through the facet joints. The doctor may inject medications into several medial nerves along the spine to identify the true source of your joint pain and back pain. If you’re suffering from back pain, sciatica, or joint pains, you can visit a pain doctor to explore your medial branch block treatment options.
How do Medial Branch Blocks Work?
A medial branch block is the diagnosis and treatment of pain caused by damaged or inflamed facet joints. The medial nerves run through the facet joints responsible for movement between the vertebrae of the spine. If any of the facet joints are inflamed, damaged, or injured, the medial nerves will carry the pain signals into the brain, leading to back pain, joint pain, sciatica, and other painful symptoms.
During a medial branch block, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid or numbing medicine is placed outside the targeted facet joint, just near the medial nerve. The pain doctor may deliver numerous injections along various points in the spine. If you experience pain relief, the pain doctor will identify the true source of back pain, following which a radiofrequency ablation might be recommended to ensure long-lasting results.
A medial branch block can identify the true source of pain caused by disorders or injuries related to the facet joints in the cervical spine, thoracic spine, or lumbar spine regions.
Benefits of Medial Branch Blocks:
- Minimally invasive pain treatment
- Alleviates pain and discomfort caused by inflamed medial nerves
- Diagnoses the root cause of back pain
- No harsh side effects or complications
- Provides instant relief from pain
- Concludes within a few minutes
- No post-treatment downtime
Your Medial Branch Block Treatment in Edison
Your medial branch block treatment starts with a thorough evaluation by the doctor. The interventional pain doctor will discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, and administer imaging tests to diagnose the root cause of your pain. After administering local anesthesia, the pain doctor will insert a specialized needle into the targeted region in your back, following which the corticosteroid is delivered just outside the targeted facet joint.
Post-Treatment Recovery & Aftercare
If the pain doctor targets the correct facet joint, you’ll experience immediate pain relief, which will help the doctor curate the ideal treatment plan for long-term relief. But if there’s no pain relief, the doctor will administer another injection to another facet joint. You will be asked to avoid driving, bathing, or swimming for up to two days, but you can resume most of your daily activities immediately. There are no complications or harsh side effects.
Schedule an Appointment
Edison Spine & Pain Management is a state-of-the-art medical center specializing in the latest minimally invasive treatments for joint pain, back pain, sciatica, and other conditions related to the facet joints. We use cutting-edge techniques to identify the true source of back pain, following which we curate personalized treatment plans. We aim to alleviate back pain without relying on addictive opioids or risky surgeries. Please schedule an appointment to explore your treatment options in Edison.
