Medial Branch Blocks
Medial Branch Blocks (MMBs) are a non-surgical treatment that interrupts pain signals from medial branch nerves to the brain. Located near the facet joints (small joints on both sides between the vertebrae and the back of the spine), medial branch nerves are nerves that branch out from these joints in the spine. Patients can experience pain when the nerves are inflamed as a result of arthritis or trauma to the back.
The Procedure
- The physician injects a local anesthetic, numbing the skin near the facet joint.
- Then, they use fluoroscopy (a live X-ray video) to guide a small needle to the inflamed medial branch nerves.
- The doctor then injects a solution consisting of a long-lasting steroid and a local anesthetic in order to reduce inflammation.
- An advantage of a Medial Branch Block is the symptoms are relieved quickly, and recovery time is drastically reduced compared to oral medications and physical therapy.