If you’re struggling with chronic back or neck pain, particularly from the facet joints of your spine, a Medial Branch Block (MBB) may be a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool. This minimally invasive procedure can help pinpoint the source of your pain and provide short-term relief—all in a single outpatient visit.

What Is a Medial Branch Block?

A Medial Branch Block is an injection of numbing medication near the small nerves—called medial branch nerves—that connect to the facet joints in your spine. These nerves can transmit pain signals when the facet joints are inflamed or damaged due to injury, arthritis, or degeneration.

By blocking these signals temporarily, your doctor can confirm whether the facet joints are the true source of your discomfort. In some cases, the injection may also provide temporary pain relief.

How to Prepare

Before the injection, your doctor will apply a local anesthetic to numb the skin and surrounding tissue where the needles will be inserted. This helps minimize any discomfort during the procedure.

During the Procedure

  1. Guiding the Needle:
    Using a specialized x-ray device called a fluoroscope, your doctor carefully guides a thin needle through the numbed tissue toward the target medial branch nerves. A small amount of contrast dye is used to confirm precise needle placement.

  2. Administering the Injection:
    Once the needle is correctly positioned, your doctor injects a numbing medication onto the medial branch nerves. If these nerves are indeed the source of your pain, you may feel significant pain relief within minutes.

    It’s common for more than one level of the spine to be treated during the same session, depending on where your symptoms are located.

After the Procedure

Following the injection, you’ll be monitored for a short time before being released to go home. Pain relief may last for several hours, and your doctor may ask you to track your symptoms as the numbing medication wears off.

If the block provides significant temporary relief, your doctor may recommend a more permanent treatment, such as radiofrequency ablation, which can offer longer-lasting results.

Is a Medial Branch Block Right for You?

A Medial Branch Block is a safe and effective way to diagnose and treat facet-related spinal pain. If you’ve been dealing with persistent neck or back discomfort and want clarity on the root cause, this procedure could be the next step toward long-term relief.

Call us at 865-579-0552 to see if a Medial Branch Block is the right solution for you. Click below to watch the procedure video.