Affiliated Physicians of Florida

Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks

Facet Injections/Medial Branch Blocks (MBB) are two separate injections performed as a diagnostic test when it is thought that a facet joint or joints are part of the process causing pain. A small amount of a local anesthetic is injected into the joint or over the medial branch nerve to see if this temporarily relieves your back or neck pain.

How do the Facet Joints cause pain?

The facet joints are line any other joint in the body, they are susceptible to acute injury (sprain and/or strain) as well degenerative arthritis. In the neck, the facet joints may cause neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. The pain is especially bad when trying to look up or turn your head. In the lumbar region, the facet joints may cause lumbar pain, buttocks pain, thigh pain. The pain is especially bad when trying to lift, bend, or twist.

What are the injections for a facet block or medial branch block?

These injections are done as a diagnostic test when it is thought that a facet joint, or joints are part of the process causing pain. A small amount of a local anesthetic is injected into the joint or over the medical branch nerve to see if this is temporarily relieves your back and neck pain.

How long does the pain relief last?

The anesthetic will only last a few hours. A small amount of steroid may be injected along with the local anesthetic and may provide pain relief from days to months. It is not uncommon for the relief you receive from any Medial Branch Block to last a few days. It is important to keep a diary of how much relief you experienced and for how long. If you experience a reduction in pain by 50% or more, the physician will usually recommend moving forward with a Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA).

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Facet Injections/Medial Branch Block (MBB)

Discectomy and Neural Decompression

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Epidural Steroid Injection

Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks

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