Medial Branch Blocks

Medial Branch Blocks

A medial branch block is very similar to a facet block. In a medial branch block, a local anesthetic and steroid are injected outside the joint space near the medial branch nerves in the spine. Your physician may recommend a medial branch block for patients who have pain in their back due to arthritic changes in the facet joints or mechanical lower back pain. The medial branch block can be both therapeutic and diagnostic. Seeing whether or not the injection is successful in eliminating pain gives your physician important information as to the source of the pain. If you get lasting benefits from a medial branch block the procedure may be repeated. If you get good shorter-term benefits, radiofrequency neurotomy may be indicated.

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Main conditions

Main treatments