Description:
Facet Joint Blocks are minimally invasive and highly effective in alleviating pain arising from arthritis and wear down of the spine. This procedure involves the injection of a long-lasting anesthetic into the facet joints in the neck, middle back, and lower back. Facet Joint Blocks serve as an effective diagnostic tool to precisely identify areas of the spine that cause pain. If Facet Joint Blocks provide significant short-term pain relief, then Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation will be recommended. Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation desensitizes small areas of the nerve tissue using an electrical current, which stops the transmission of painful signals.
Conditions Treated:
Facet Joint Blocks and Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation are commonly recommended for patients with the following conditions:
- Arthritis of the spine
- Facet joint arthritis
- Neck pain
- Middle back pain
- Lower back pain
What to Expect:
Facet Joint Blocks: procedure length: <5min. Patients start experiencing significant pain relief almost immediately. The expected duration of pain relief is several days. Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation: procedure length: <10min. Patients start experiencing significant pain relief within 2 weeks following the procedure. The expected duration of pain relief is 12 months. If requested by the patient, this procedure can be done with IV sedation. Please note that if IV sedation is requested, the patient would need to bring a driver with them on the day of the procedure.