A Medial Branch Block is a procedure in which anesthetic is injected near a suspicious medial nerve connected to a specific facet joint. If the patient immediately experiences significantly reduction in pain, then they have targeted the problematic facet joint. If not, they inject into another area.
Medial Branch Block is primarily a diagnostic test to find the source of your pain. Once it is confirmed, the patient is eligible for a subsequent treatment called medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy to relieve pain for the long term.
For more information, consult Dr. Stanley O Ikezi, an experienced Double Board Certified Pain Management Specialist in New York City.