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Also called the zygophasial joints, the facet joints are located along the posterior region of the spine. They prevent excessive twisting of the lower back and do not allow for too much extension of the neck. Damage to these joints occur from arthritis, trauma, infection, disc degeneration, and repetitive lifting.

When an anesthetic agent is injected onto the nerves of an inflamed facet joint, the medication blocks pain signals and relieves the pain. The medial branch block also allows the pain management specialist to determine the exact location of the pain and create a plan to block it. While the block only provides temporary pain relief, it allows the doctor to determine effectiveness of a radiofrequency ablation to destroy a portion of the nerves.

You may be a candidate for a medial branch block if you suffer from some form of back pain that is accompanied by pain that radiates down your legs. The doctor may suggest this block if other therapies and treatments have not worked for relieving your pain.

The doctor will position you face down, and clean your back with an antiseptic solution. The skin and deeper tissues will be injected with a local anesthetic, which will feel like a pinch and slight burning. Using x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), the doctor will position small needles into the facet joints and administer the anesthetic, with or without a corticosteroid agent.

The numbing anesthetic agent injected onto the nerves will only last a few hours. During this time, the doctor will have you walk around to induce pain that you usually feel.

If the pain is not present, or is greatly reduced, the pain management doctor in Los Angeles may recommend a radiofrequency ablation procedure. Once the numbness wears off, the anti-inflammatory steroid begins to work, alleviating joint inflammation. You will be discharged home after around 40 minutes of observation.

As with other minimally invasive tests, the medial branch block has some risks associated with it. These include infection, nerve injury, bleeding, temporary dizziness, spinal injury, and blood vessel damage.

It is possible to experience some side effects to the anesthetic, such as numbness of the arm or leg, depending on which test was done. In addition, there may be some discomfort at the injection site, which is easily relieved with the use of ice packs for 20-minute intervals several times a day.

After the medial branch block, you can return to normal activity the next day. In addition, you may resume a normal diet immediately after the procedure. Unless otherwise instructed, you should take your normal medications before and after the procedure.