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Facet (Medial branch) Block
Benefits
Pinpoints whether facet joints are the source of your neck or back pain
Provides a clear answer when imaging alone hasn't been conclusive
Often provides real, immediate pain relief in addition to diagnostic information
Guides the next step in your treatment plan
Minimally invasive — no incision, no general anesthesia
Results help determine whether you're a candidate for longer-lasting radiofrequency treatment
What to Expect
1
Prep & Positioning
You'll be positioned face down on the procedure table. The team will get you settled and comfortable and explain each step before starting.
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2
Cleanse & Numbing
The skin is cleaned with a sterile solution and a local anesthetic is injected to numb the area. Most patients say the numbing sting is brief and manageable — it passes within seconds.
3
Guided Injection
Using live X-ray guidance, Dr. Savu positions the needle near the medial branch nerves at the affected level or levels. A small amount of numbing medicine is precisely placed at each target site.
4
Pain Tracking AFterward
After, you'll be asked to track your pain levels for the next several hours. How much relief you get — and for how long , etc. You'll be released to your driver with discharge instructions that discuss what to track.
This procedure may be right for you if you have:
Chronic neck or back pain that's worse with bending backward or twisting​
Pain that spreads across the upper or lower back without shooting down into the leg
Arthritis of the spine
Pain that hasn't been fully explained by imaging alone
Ongoing symptoms that suggest facet joint involvement and need confirmation before further treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
The injection itself is quick — under an hour. Plan on one to three hours at the office total including check-in, prep, the procedure, and brief observation before discharge.
Your response to the block is the whole point of the test. Significant relief in the hours after the injection confirms the facet joints are the problem. No relief means we look elsewhere. Either answer moves your care forward.
Your pain will likely return to its normal baseline once the numbing medicine wears off — usually within a few hours. This is expected. The goal of this block is diagnosis first. If it confirms facet joints as the source, a radiofrequency procedure can be planned for longer-lasting relief.
Eat lightly before your appointment. Arrange a driver. Let the office know about blood thinners, aspirin, or anti-inflammatory medications. Continue routine medications for heart, diabetes, and blood pressure unless told otherwise.
Some soreness at the injection site is normal. Contact the office if you develop fever, increasing redness or drainage at the site, or any new neurological symptoms like sudden weakness or changes in bladder or bowel function.
ABOUT THIS PROCEDURE
Actual Procedure: Less than 1 hour
Driver Required: Yes
Total Visit: 1–3 hours
Running along the back of your spine at every level — from your neck to your lower back — are small joints called facet joints. They work like hinges, giving your spine stability while still allowing you to bend and twist. Like any joint in the body, they can wear down over time, become arthritic, or get inflamed after an injury.
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Facet joint pain typically causes a deep aching in the neck or back that's often worse with bending backward, prolonged standing, or twisting. It can spread into the shoulders, buttocks, or thighs — which makes it easy to confuse with other conditions. The bigger problem is that facet joint pain doesn't always show up clearly on an MRI. You can have significant pain and still have imaging that looks relatively normal.
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That's exactly what this procedure is designed to sort out. A medial branch block places a small amount of numbing medicine near the nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints to your brain. If your pain improves significantly after the injection — even temporarily — that confirms those joints are the source. If nothing changes, we keep looking. Either result is useful. If the block confirms facet joints as the culprit, a radiofrequency rhizotomy is typically the next step for longer-lasting relief.