A facet medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure used to identify the source of pain in your lower back or neck. Your spine is made up of bones with small joints in between called facet joints. These joints help your back move, but they can degenerate, becoming inflamed or irritated and cause pain.

During this procedure, the doctor injects a numbing medicine near the nerves that send pain signals from these joints to your brain. If the pain improves after the injection, it tells the doctor that the facet joint was likely the source of your pain. This information helps them determine the best treatment plan for you. If these injections provide significant relief, you may be suitable for radiofrequency ablation treatment of the facet joints which aims to provide long lasting relief from back and neck pain.

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