Facet Block

Facet joints are small joints in the back of the spine. They are the number one cause of neck and back pain. Facet joint pain can be due to osteoarthritis, trauma (i.e., from a car accident), and misalignment of the spine among other causes.

A facet or medial branch nerve block involves injecting numbing medication and sometimes steroid medication into a facet joint or the nerve that innervates the facet joint (medial branch nerve). It is primarily a diagnostic procedure to determine how much of a patient’s neck or back pain is coming from the facet joints. It can also be therapeutic and provide long term relief.

If patients receive significant relief from a facet or medial branch block, then it means their pain is primarily coming from the facet joints, and most likely a candidate for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the facet joint.

Facet Blocks are a treatment option for:

facet block jax spine jacksonville fl

Benefits of Facet Blocks:

Safe, effective treatment alternative to medication or surgery.
Can provide pain relief for up to several months.
Quick, minimally invasive, in-office procedure.

What To Expect

Here’s what to expect with a facet block.

Preparation

There is minimal preparation needed for facet/medial branch blocks. If you are on a blood thinner, you may be instructed to discontinue the blood thinner, but it often can be performed without stopping blood thinners.

For neck (cervical) facet/medial branch blocks, it is recommended that the patient has a driver because it is common to experience some dizziness immediately after the procedure.

Treatment

The procedure is performed in a procedure room or operating room with the patient laying on his/her stomach. The physician will use an x-ray to guide a needle to the facet joint where a small amount of numbing medication (and sometimes a steroid) will be injected.

Recovery

There are no activity restrictions following a facet or medial branch block. Sometime your physician may encourage you to go home and do activities that would normally aggravate your symptoms to see if the block is relieving your symptoms.

It is important to remember that this procedure is primarily diagnostic (used to determine the source of pain) and only expected to provide several hours of relief, but sometimes the pain relief will last much longer. If the patient receives significant relief for several hours after this procedure, they are likely a candidate for radiofrequency ablation, which provides (on average) 6-12 months of relief or longer.

Is A Facet Block Right For You?

If you suffer from neck or back pain that has failed to improve with conservative management, a facet or medial branch nerve block may be the next best step in determining the cause of your pain and proper treatment for your pain.

To learn more about facet blocks and if you might be a good candidate, fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.