Lumbar medial branch blocks are minimally invasive, image-guided diagnostic procedures used to determine whether lumbar facet joints are the source of chronic lower back pain. These injections temporarily numb the medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain.
If significant pain relief occurs after a lumbar medial branch block, the patient may be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation (radiofrequency neurotomy) for longer-lasting relief.
The lumbar facet joints are small joints located between the vertebrae in the lower back. They help guide spinal movement and provide stability. When these joints become arthritic, inflamed, or injured, they can cause persistent lower back pain.
The medial branch nerves supply sensation to the facet joints. A lumbar medial branch block involves injecting a local anesthetic near these nerves to temporarily interrupt pain transmission.
If the injection relieves pain, it confirms that the facet joint is the primary pain generator.
Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joint injections are used to treat:
These injections specifically target pain generated from the upper cervical facet joints rather than muscular or disc-related pain.
Patients with facet-mediated lower back pain may experience:
Facet joint pain is typically mechanical and aggravated by movement.
Lumbar medial branch blocks are performed in an outpatient setting under fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance.
The procedure includes:
The procedure typically takes approximately 15 minutes.
Reach out to our specialists to schedule an initial consultation. We’ll carefully review your symptoms and match you with the right expert for your specific condition.
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