MEDIAL BRANCH NERVE BLOCK
Pain in the back or neck can be caused
by a group of nerves, joints, facets, ligaments or
muscles. When
more conservative methods of pain control and diagnosis are
ineffective,
specialized procedures may be indicated.
One such procedure to treat refractory back or neck pain is the median
branch block. This
block can be performed in the cervical, thoracic,
or lumbar areas of the spine, depending
upon the site of pain or
pathology. Injecting medications into these nerves may decrease the
pain due to facet joint pathology, as well as for certain problems
stemming from ligament or
bursa trauma. This type of nerve block
assists in the diagnosis of a pain problem, and helps
the physician
in the decision process as to proper course of more permanent
therapy.
Pain following spinal surgery is often caused by irritation and
inflammation of the structures
that give support to the bones of the
spine. When spinal surgery is performed, much of the
posterior
supporting elements are removed, which results in substantially
increased mobility
of the spine. Unfortunately, the increased
mobility is not of the desired nature, and the joints,
ligaments and
bursa along the posterior elements of the spine are continually
damaged with
movement and motion. This pain is often treatable with
median branch blocks. Unfortunately,
spinal fusion is often the only
therapeutic option offered to the patient. This is essentially an
irreversible decision, and the consequences are often devastating.
The medial branch block is performed with the assistance of a special
x-ray machine
(fluoroscopy) which enables the physician to
accurately locate the nerve, and document for
future use; if the
procedure needs to be repeated. A small volume of local anesthetic
(numbing medicine) is injected, and the response is then observed
for the next day or so. If
the pain improves for a period of several
hours after the injection of the local anesthetic, the
patient may
be a candidate for the more long-term treatment, which involves
destruction of
the nerve through the technique of radio frequency denervation. This procedure, done through
a needle probe, avoids the
need for traditional surgical exploration, and thereby reduces
surgical risks, decreases recovery times, and tremendously reduces
cost.
Medial branch block is much safer than surgery, and if the block is
successful, surgery is
often avoided. If the procedure is
unsuccessful, the surgical options can be entertained.
Get real answers at
Gulf Coast Pain Management.
Please do not hesitate to ask Lynne Carr Columbus, D.O.
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