When evaluating treatment options for chronic spinal pain, understanding the difference between a medial branch block vs. facet injection is an important first step. Advanced Spine Center in Plano, TX, offers both procedures as targeted, minimally invasive options for patients dealing with persistent neck or back pain. To learn more or schedule an evaluation, contact us online or call (972) 499-5457.
What Is a Facet Joint?
Facet joints are small paired joints located between articular processes along the back of the spinal column, connecting each vertebra to the one above and below it. They provide stability while allowing controlled movement throughout the neck and back. Each joint is lined with cartilage and surrounded by a fluid-filled capsule that cushions the vertebrae during motion. Facet joint pain most often develops from age-related degeneration, arthritis, repetitive stress, or injury. Studies shared by the National Library of Medicine confirm this condition is especially common in adults aged 60 and older.
Symptoms of Facet Joint Pain
Patients with facet joint syndrome typically experience a dull ache or sharp pain in the lower back or neck. Back and neck pain often worsens with movements such as twisting or bending backward. Discomfort may radiate into the shoulders, buttocks, or upper legs, depending on which spinal level is affected. Inflammation inside the joint can also cause stiffness and reduced range of motion. Many patients notice that their symptoms ease with rest.
What Is a Facet Joint Injection?
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a local anesthetic and steroid medication directly into the affected facet joint. These intra-articular injections reduce pain and inflammation. Physicians use techniques such as ultrasound or X-ray guidance to precisely place the needle at the injection site.
Doctors typically recommend this facet joint pain treatment in Plano, TX when chronic pain has not responded to conservative treatment such as physical therapy or pain medicine. Some patients benefit from repeat injections, while others may only need one. Possible side effects include increased fluid retention, pain or bleeding at the injection site, and high blood sugar in diabetic patients.
Conditions Treated With Facet Injections
Arthritis causes bone-on-bone contact that produces chronic pain and inflammation. Extreme cases may lead to facet hypertrophy, which is an enlargement of the facet joints. This contributes to nerve compression and reduced mobility. Injections are one option for facet hypertrophy treatment in Plano, TX. Facet joint block procedures can also address other issues leading to inflammation and chronic spinal pain.
What Are Medial Branch Blocks?
A medial branch block injection in Plano, TX delivers numbing medication and steroids to the spine. Unlike a facet joint injection, a medial branch block targets the medial branch nerves outside the joint rather than the joint itself. Side effects such as new pain or temporary numbness/weakness may occur. If side effects last, be sure to contact your doctor.
Physicians may recommend this treatment when anti-inflammatory medication, conservative care, and other therapies do not provide sufficient pain relief. In addition to serving as treatment for spinal pain, these injections can be used as a diagnostic tool. Advanced Spine Center offers cervical medial branch block in Plano, TX, as well as lumbar and thoracic options, depending on the location of the patient’s symptoms.
How a Medial Branch Block Works
Using X-ray, fluoroscopic, or ultrasound guidance, the physician positions a needle near the medial branch nerves responsible for carrying pain signals. They then inject numbing medication to block pain signal transmission. If the injection produces temporary pain relief, it confirms that the medial branch nerve is actively transmitting facet pain from the affected joint. Doctors may then recommend long-term options such as lumbar radiofrequency ablation or cervical radiofrequency ablation in Plano, TX.
What Is the Difference Between Medial Branch Block vs Facet Joint Injection?
A facet joint injection delivers steroid and numbing medication directly inside the joint capsule to treat inflammation and provide therapeutic pain relief. Medial branch blocks target the nerves outside the joint to temporarily interrupt pain signals and confirm the facet joint as the source of a patient’s pain.
Since the two procedures serve different purposes, doctors may recommend one or both depending on the patient’s diagnosis and treatment goals. Together, these therapeutic and diagnostic injections give physicians a clearer picture of the cause of a patient’s chronic spinal pain.
Benefits of Facet Blocks and Medial Branch Blocks
Facet blocks and medial branch blocks are minimally invasive procedures requiring little to no recovery time. Both injections can reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief from nerve pain. By managing these symptoms, patients can more easily engage in physical therapy and other conservative treatments. Furthermore, both procedures carry significant diagnostic value, helping physicians identify which spinal level and structure is responsible for a patient’s pain. Although there is a relatively low risk of side effects, they may occur. Your doctor will carefully monitor you for infections, allergic reactions, and other issues.
How Long Do Facet Joint Blocks and Medial Branch Blocks Last?
The local anesthetic in a facet joint injection provides immediate pain relief lasting a few hours. Long-term pain relief from the steroid component can last several weeks to several months. Medial branch nerve blocks usually last just a few hours or days. This is because this injection is more often used for diagnostic purposes rather than long-term care. Those with compounding conditions may require a layered treatment approach that combines injections with additional interventions.
Who Is a Candidate for Facet Joint Block or Medial Branch Blocks?
Patients with persistent neck or back pain may benefit from these treatments. If issues originate from the facet joint, facet joint blocks can relieve pain and swelling. When the source of pain is uncertain, doctors can use cervical, thoracic, or lumbar medial branch blocks in TX to diagnose the cause. Those with conditions that have not responded to conservative treatment are often good candidates for facet joint block or medial branch block procedures.
Schedule an Evaluation for Facet Joint Pain in Plano, TX. Contact Advanced Spine Center Today.
Advanced Spine Center takes a thorough, individualized approach to diagnosing facet joint syndrome. We consider the patient’s history while assessing their condition through physical examination and advanced imaging. The team uses diagnostic injections to pinpoint the source of chronic spinal pain and identify the most effective path to long-term relief. Allow our team to help you return to normal activities with professional spine care in Plano.
Contact us online or call (972) 499-5457 to schedule a consultation at Advanced Spine Center in Plano, TX.
