Medial Branch Block

What is a Medial Branch Block?

A medial branch block is an injection given into your back near the facet joints of your spine. A local anesthetic incorporated into the injection alleviates pain. The injection is very carefully placed by a doctor in your back, near the nerves that surround the affected facet joint. Your brain receives pain messages from these nerves. The injection will reduce pain and momentarily block the impulses. Your physician will make sure the injection is administered precisely through the use of X-ray guidance.

Conditions Treated with Medial Branch Block Injections

Medial branch block injections help manage chronic neck, mid-back, and lower back pain caused by several spinal conditions, including:

• Facet Joint Syndrome: Inflammation or arthritis in the facet joints, including lumbar, thoracic, and cervical facet syndrome, leading to localized pain and stiffness.
• Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint wear affecting spinal joints and causing persistent back discomfort.
• Spondylosis: Age-related spinal changes, including disc degeneration or bone spurs that irritate nerves and joints.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal compressing nerves, contributing to back and neck pain.
• Spinal Injury or Trauma: Strains, fractures, or other spinal damage triggering facet joint inflammation and chronic pain.

Our medial branch block injections at The Spine & Rehab Group allow our NJ and NYC specialists to accurately pinpoint the source of pain and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Benefits of Medial Branch Block Injections

Medial branch block injections provide both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits for patients with chronic neck and back pain.

Key advantages include:

• Effective Pain Relief: Reduces or eliminates pain caused by irritated or inflamed facet joints.
• Accurate Diagnosis: Confirms whether the facet joints are the true source of discomfort, guiding further treatments.
• Minimally Invasive: Performed precisely under imaging guidance with no incisions and minimal recovery time.
• Non-Surgical Alternative: Safe and effective for patients looking to avoid or delay spinal surgery.
• Improved Mobility and Function: By reducing inflammation and discomfort, these injections enable better movement and a faster return to daily activities.

What Is the Next Step after a Medial Branch Block?

After your medial branch block, your doctor will closely evaluate how much pain relief you experience in the hours and days following the procedure. If the injection significantly reduces your discomfort, it confirms that the facet joints are the likely source of your pain.

The next step may include a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure, which uses heat to target the same medial branch nerves and provide longer-lasting pain relief—often for six months to a year.

If pain relief is minimal or short-lived, your physician may explore other diagnostic tests or treatment options to identify the true cause of your symptoms. Follow-up appointments are essential to ensure you receive the most effective and personalized care plan.

How Long Does the Medial Branch Block Procedure Take?

Medial branch blocks are performed on an outpatient basis, which is very convenient for patients. The procedure, which includes both preparation and execution, usually takes about 30 minutes. This amount of time allows for careful treatment without compromising efficiency. After the procedure, patients have another 30 minutes to rest and recuperate before leaving the facility.

Our Board certified doctors Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA Book Now David Chu, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM Book Now

How Often Should this Procedure Be Done?

Medial branch blocks are typically injected into a specific spot, and a maximum of three injections should be given over the course of six months. This restriction offers the best possible compromise between the potential risks of repeated interventions and the therapeutic benefits. It is noteworthy that a lot of patients report great pain alleviation with just several injections, demonstrating the effectiveness of this treatment approach.

What Are the Expected Results of Medial Branch Blockade?

Throughout a lengthy period of use, median branch blocks have shown to be both safe and efficient. Most patients achieve pain alleviation within minutes of the surgery. Patients are asked to diligently monitor the extent of their discomfort in the days following the treatment in order to accurately determine the intermetatarsal joints as the source of pain. Thanks to this proactive approach, your doctor can evaluate the efficacy of treatment and take additional action as needed.

Medial branch block injections are a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution for diagnosing and treating neck and back pain from facet joint issues. They can relieve discomfort, guide further treatments such as physical therapy, steroid injections, or radiofrequency ablation, and improve your overall quality of life. Contact The Spine & Rehab Group in New Jersey or New York City today to see if medial branch block injections are right for you and start your journey toward better spinal health.

Dr. Hosny is a distinguished physician, educator, and healthcare leader with a commitment to advancing health equity and accessibility in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern healthcare. After completing his residency at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University in New York City, he pursued an Interventional Spine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

Dr. Hosny has held prominent roles in academic medicine, including serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at New York Medical College and as the Interventional Spine Fellowship Program Director. These positions reflect his dedication to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing the field of interventional spine care.

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The Spine & Rehab Group
140 NJ-17,
Paramus, NJ 07652
(212) 242-8160