Procedures to eliminate pain may sound intimidating to some, especially if they aren’t sure how it works. You may be skeptical about a procedure because of other failed treatments or previous bad experiences. But there is a way to determine whether or not more intensive therapies will work, and it’s performed through a simple process.
Here’s everything you need to know about the procedure known as medial branch block from your McAllen pain doctor.
What Is a Medial Branch Block?
A medial branch block is an injection of local anesthetic into the area surrounding the medial branch nerve. The medial branch nerve is located near the facet joint and sends pain signals from the joint to the brain.
Your doctor will perform a medial branch block injection in two stages; the first injection is a long-acting local anesthetic, while the second injection, performed several days later, is a short-acting local anesthetic.
Injections are guided with the support of an x-ray machine, a process called fluoroscopy, which allows your doctor to determine the correct placement.
What To Expect After a Medial Branch Block
The medial branch block procedure provides short-term pain relief while also being used to determine the cause of your pain so that your physician can develop a more permanent solution.
Please be aware that if the targeted facet joint is not the source of your pain, you will not feel pain relief from the medial branch block procedure.
If the facet joint is the cause of your pain, the nerve blockage will provide you with complete or partial pain relief for a few hours after the injection. Your physician will record your pain level and symptoms to determine if the facet joint is the cause of your pain and to decide on what additional treatment options are available to minimize your pain.
Determine What the Cause of Your Pain Is With a Medial Nerve Block
Discovering the cause of your pain brings you one step closer to a life free of pain. McAllen’s 911 Pain Management Clinic can relieve back and neck pain with this simple test and others so you can find the relief you deserve.
