25 Jul Using Medial Branch Blocks and Facet Injections to Treat Pain
Instead of treating your pain with prescription drugs – which offer only temporary relief – you may want to consider special injections. Many of those suffering from pain in the spine and lower back are finding relief with facet injections and medical branch blocks.
A facet block consists of an injection that contains both an anesthetic and steroid, so you feel virtually no pain. This injection is placed in a spinal joint. Similar to this is a medial branch block, which is placed outside the medial branch joint. We also invite you to learn more about Dr. Nikesh Seth and other providers including Dr. Anne-Marie Cosijns, Dr. Lisa Sparks, Dr. Michael Givens, and our team of Nurse Practitioners.
Use for Diagnosis and/or Pain Relief
Facet injections and medical branch blocks can not only help relieve pain, but also help doctors diagnose the source of the pain. If the pain does not go away after an injection, then the facet joints are not the cause of the pain. If the pain goes away, but comes back a few hours later, then the doctor has likely identified the source of the pain, but the medication didn’t help. If the injection alleviates the pain for an extended period of time, then the facet joint is the cause of the pain, and the medication is working.
The Injection Procedure
Treatment with Medical Branch Blocks or Facet Injections is fairly quick. Your back will be cleaned and then numbed with an anesthetic. There may be a stinging sensation. The doctor then uses X-rays to guide the needle to the right location. Once the doctor has found the correct medial branch or joint, then the needle enters the skin, and the medication is injected. The area will be bandaged, and your vitals will be checked. If everything checks out OK, then you will be allowed to go home.
Treat Pain With Help From Scottsdale Pain Management Experts
Board certified pain management expert Dr. Nikesh Seth and his amazing team of providers use state-of-the-art medical technology to treat pain in the back, neck, joints, nerves and more. You no longer have to suffer in silence. Contact one of our pain clinics in the Phoenix Valley and get the relief you so desperately need. Book your appointment online today – call (480) 626-2552. You’re just a few clicks away from pain relief.