Facet Joint Blocks and Medial Branch Nerve Blocks
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About 40% of neck and back pain are from facet joint diseases. To successfully relieve the pain, having an accurate diagnosis is the key. Facet joint blocks are the deliverance of local anesthetic mediation to a particular facet joint to determine if the pain is gone, and to determine if the pain returns when the medication wears off. Facet joint blocks are used for the diagnosis of pain originated from facet joint diseases, such as arthritis and injury.
All pain is felt with nerves. The nerves that sense the facet joint problems are called medial branch nerves. Medial branch nerve blocks are the use of local anesthetic medication to numb the medial branch nerves. They are as equally effective as facet joint blocks for the diagnosis of facet joint pain syndrome.
Facet joint blocks or medial branch nerve blocks are very simple and safe procedures. They are done under x-ray guidance and with light sedation. Patients are generally released after 1-2 hours and can return to their normal work and activities the next day if sedation is used.
Kaixuan Liu MD, PhD
Bryan Massoud, MD
Rae Aranas, MD