Am I a Candidate for a Medial Branch Nerve Block for My Back Pain?

If you’re like most people, you probably never gave much thought to your back (or its anatomy) — until it started to hurt. Suddenly, even simple, everyday activities are painful, and all you can think about is finding some sort of meaningful, long-term relief. 

Fortunately, today there are many options for relieving back pain, including pain originating from your spine joints. Here, Zaid Malik, MD, and the team at Superior Pain Relief review a minimally invasive treatment called a medial branch nerve block that targets the spine’s facet joints to relieve discomfort at its exact source.

Understanding facet joint pain

When most people think of joints, the body’s larger joints come to mind — knees, hips, and ankles. But your spine has joints, too, located between each pair of vertebrae. These are called facet joints, and not only do they connect one vertebra to another, but they also allow your spine to twist and flex, supporting a full range of movement.

Like any other joints in your body, your facet joints are subjected to movement and strain. Over time, they can wear down or become inflamed and arthritic. 

Traumatic injuries and overuse can damage these tiny joints, too. Not surprisingly, a lot of facet joint pain is located in the lower back and neck, areas of your spine that are most mobile and most subjected to movement.

Facet joints contain nerves called medial branch nerves. They communicate between the joints and your brain, and if your joints are inflamed or damaged, they transmit pain signals — often chronically.

Facet joint damage can irritate other nerves, too, notably where they exit your spine before traveling to other parts of your body. As a result, you can feel the effects of facet joint pain far from the affected joint, often making diagnosis and treatment problematic.

Medial branch nerve blocks: How they work

A medial branch nerve block is a type of injection that is therapeutic, and it also helps determine if your facet joints are responsible for the symptoms you’re feeling. These injections work directly on the medial branch nerves, blocking pain signals between the facet joints and your brain. 

If you have back or neck pain that doesn’t go away with at-home care, you could be a good candidate for a medial branch nerve block.

During your injection treatment, you lie face-down on the exam table so we can access your back. Dr. Malik numbs the area with a local anesthetic, and then he uses a special X-ray technique called fluoroscopy to locate the target nerve. 

He slowly injects medication to the area, anesthetizing the nerve and — depending on your needs — reducing inflammation. Most treatments take about a half-hour or less, and recovery is quick, typically involving only a little mild discomfort in the injection area. 

Nerve blocks for diagnosis

When the medial branch nerve is the cause of your symptoms, the nerve block provides rapid relief that can last for several months. Once we determine your facet nerves are the cause of your symptoms, we can map out a long-term treatment plan based on your individual needs. 

Your plan might involve additional facet joint injections or a different type of procedure called a medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy — a minimally invasive treatment that deadens the nerve temporarily, providing long-term symptom relief.

On the other hand, if you don’t experience symptom relief or if relief is minimal after you receive the medial branch nerve block, that’s usually a sign that your facet joints aren’t the direct cause of your symptoms. In that case, we use those results to plan out follow-up testing to help us identify the cause.

Find relief from chronic back pain

Chronic back pain doesn’t just cause physical symptoms. Trying to manage pain day in and day out can lead to emotional exhaustion, chronic stress, and even depression. While conservative treatments may help some types of pain, they’re not always effective. 

Medial branch nerve blocks can offer relief and help us determine the cause of your symptoms for more focused, more effective treatment. 

To find out what’s causing your chronic back pain or to learn more about medial branch nerve blocks and other treatments, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Malik and the team at Superior Pain Relief in Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas, today.