Medial Branch Block vs Facet Injection: Which Treatment Is Right for You?
If you’re dealing with chronic back or neck pain, finding the right treatment can make a big difference in how you feel day-to-day.
Two common treatments for this type of pain are medial branch blocks and facet joint injections.
While they both target pain coming from the spine, they work in different ways.
Let’s break down the differences between a medial branch block vs facet injection so you can decide which option is be right for you!
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What Is a Medial Branch Block?
A medial branch block (MBB) is an injection that targets the nerves responsible for sending pain signals from the spine’s facet joints.
By injecting a local anesthetic near these nerves, the pain signals are temporarily blocked.
Doctors use this as a way to figure out if those nerves are causing your pain.
If the block works, it could mean that you’re a good candidate for a longer-term treatment like radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which can offer more lasting relief.
When is a Medial Branch Block Used?
Doctors typically recommend a medial branch block when they suspect your back or neck pain is coming from your facet joints.
It’s mostly used as a diagnostic tool, meaning it helps confirm where the pain is coming from before moving forward with other treatments.
How Elite Pain Doctors Can Help with Medial Branch Blocks
At Elite Pain Doctors, medial branch blocks are a key part of our approach to diagnosing and treating chronic pain.
Our specialists take the time to understand your pain and use advanced diagnostic techniques to make sure you get the right treatment.
If the medial branch block provides relief, we may recommend radiofrequency ablation to help keep the pain away for longer.
What Is a Facet Joint Injection?
Facet joint injections are another way to treat pain that’s coming from your spine, but they focus more on inflammation.
During this procedure, your doctor injects both a local anesthetic and a steroid directly into the facet joint.
The anesthetic gives you quick pain relief, and the steroid helps reduce inflammation, which can lead to longer-term relief.
When is a Facet Joint Injection Used?
Facet joint injections are usually recommended for people with arthritis or other inflammatory issues in the spine’s facet joints.
They can help with both diagnosing the source of the pain and providing relief by calming inflammation.
Comparing Medial Branch Block vs Facet Joint Injection
Target Areas
- Medial Branch Block: This injection targets the nerves around the facet joints that send pain signals to the brain.
- Facet Joint Injection: This one is aimed directly at the joint itself to reduce inflammation and pain.
Diagnostic vs Therapeutic Purpose
- Medial Branch Block: It’s mainly used to diagnose the cause of your pain. If it works, you might be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation.
- Facet Joint Injection: It’s both diagnostic and therapeutic. It helps confirm the pain source and reduces inflammation for longer relief.
Effectiveness for Specific Conditions
- Medial Branch Block: This is more useful when doctors need to confirm that your pain is coming from the facet joints.
- Facet Joint Injection: Best for treating pain caused by inflammation or arthritis in the facet joints.
Pain Relief Duration
- Medial Branch Block: You’ll get temporary relief, which helps confirm whether the nerves are causing the pain, leading to accurate treatment.
- Facet Joint Injection: Relief from a facet injection can last weeks or even months, depending on how much inflammation there is.
Which Treatment is Right for You?
We know how tricky it can be choosing the right treatment - here are a couple pointers:
When to Choose a Medial Branch Block
A medial branch block is a good option if you’re considering radiofrequency ablation and need to confirm if the facet joints are the pain source.
It helps pinpoint the problem before moving forward with longer-lasting treatments.
It's also nice because medial branch block side effects are typically very mild.
When to Choose a Facet Joint Injection
Facet joint injections are better if your pain is due to inflammation or arthritis in the facet joints.
These injections target inflammation and can provide more immediate and long-lasting relief.
Consult with Elite Pain Doctors
At Elite Pain Doctors, our team will work with you to determine the best treatment for your pain.
We'll assess your symptoms, medical history, and pain patterns to recommend either a medial branch block or a facet joint injection based on what will provide you with the most relief.
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The Procedures: What to Expect
Both medial branch blocks and facet joint injections are quick outpatient procedures, meaning you won’t need to spend the night at the hospital.
Here’s what happens during each:
Medial Branch Block
Your doctor will inject a local anesthetic near the medial nerves in your spine.
If your pain goes away, it confirms that the nerves are the problem.
This gives your doctor a green light to move forward with radiofrequency ablation, which offers more long-term relief.
Facet Joint Injection
For this procedure, your doctor will inject a combination of anesthetic and steroid into the facet joint itself.
The anesthetic provides quick relief, and the steroid helps reduce inflammation, which can provide longer-lasting pain relief.
Recovery Time and Results
Recovery for both procedures is usually quick, with most patients getting back to normal activities within a day or two.
At Elite Pain Doctors, our team will follow up with you to ensure everything is on track for your recovery.
Common Questions About Medial Branch Blocks vs Facet Injections
- Do these injections hurt?
- Both procedures use local anesthetics to keep discomfort to a minimum.
- How long does the relief last?
- Medial branch blocks offer short-term relief to help pinpoint the pain source. Facet joint injections can provide longer-lasting relief, often for weeks or months.
- What are the risks?
- Both procedures are generally safe with low risk, but like any medical procedure, there’s a small chance of infection or bleeding. Elite Pain Doctors take every precaution to keep you safe.
Conclusion
Both medial branch blocks and facet joint injections can help manage chronic back or neck pain, but they’re used in different ways.
If you need to confirm where your pain is coming from, a medial branch block might be the right choice.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with inflammation or arthritis in your facet joints, a facet joint injection could offer more immediate relief.
At Elite Pain Doctors, our specialists are here to guide you through the process, helping you figure out which treatment will work best for your situation.
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FAQS
Is a facet injection the same as MBB?
No, a facet joint injection and a medial branch block (MBB) are different. A facet joint injection is placed directly into the facet joint to reduce inflammation, while a medial branch block targets the nerves that send pain signals from the facet joints to the brain.
What is the difference between a nerve block and an injection?
A nerve block is a procedure that targets specific nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain, often used for diagnostic purposes. An injection typically delivers medication directly to a joint or tissue to reduce inflammation and pain.
How long will a medial branch block last?
The pain relief from a medial branch block is typically short-term, often lasting a few hours to a few days. The goal is to determine whether the medial branch nerves are the source of the pain, which can help decide the next steps in treatment.
What is the difference between a facet nerve block and a medial branch block?
A facet nerve block targets the nerves surrounding a specific facet joint, whereas a medial branch block focuses on the medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. Both procedures aim to relieve pain, but they target different areas of the spine.
Do they sedate you for a medial branch block?
Most medial branch blocks are performed with local anesthesia rather than sedation. However, light sedation may be used in some cases to help the patient relax during the procedure.
How many injections does a medial branch block need?
A medial branch block typically requires one to two injections during the initial diagnostic phase. If the block successfully reduces pain, radiofrequency ablation may be recommended as a follow-up treatment for longer-term relief.
Why is my back pain worse after a facet joint injection?
It’s not uncommon to experience temporary soreness or increased pain after a facet joint injection. This is often due to the needle insertion or the initial inflammatory response from the injected medication. The discomfort should subside within a few days as the steroid begins to reduce inflammation. If the pain persists or worsens, it's important to consult your doctor.