Facet Injections / Medial Branch Blocks
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The facet joints in your spine are important for maintaining good posture. If they’re damaged or deteriorating due to arthritis, you may experience chronic neck and back pain that only an experienced pain specialist can diagnose and treat with injections/medial branch blocks! These doctors have considerable skill when it comes to administering image-guided procedures like these two types of medical treatment options available at our clinic.
Facet Injections/ Medial Branch Blocks Q & A
What are Facet Joints?
These small joints between vertebrae help give you stability and prevent your spine from twisting or extending too far. Medial branch nerves exit out through gaps in between each joint, giving it extra protection while still allowing movement for proper positioning of the body’s weight.
The facet joint is an important part when it comes down to our back health because they stop any dangerous extension by preventing misalignment that could cause pain.
What are Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks?
These medical procedures are available to patients who aren’t responding well to traditional treatment. Both involve injecting a local anesthetic into the facet joints or medial branch nerves in an effort to block pain signals that could be causing neurological complications.
Facet joint injections may be offered for acute neck and back injuries if conservative treatment fails to resolve symptoms. This blocks pain receptors to avoid further irritation. Medial branch blocks are done in an effort to reduce inflammation and swelling around the joints, which can exacerbate chronic conditions when left untreated for too long.
Which Procedure is Right for Me?
Your pain specialist will perform a physical examination to determine if facet joint injections or medial branch blocks are the right course of action for your condition. Both procedures involve using image-guided technology as well as fluoroscopic guidance.
What Happens When I Get a Facet Injection/Medial Branch Block?
The doctor gives you a local anesthetic to numb the injection site, then inserts treatment needles on each side of your spine using fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance technologies that show him moving images in order to provide a targetted procedure while ensuring the correct position before delivering medication.
Facet injections or medial branch blocks can be quick outpatient procedures.