This Condition Is Common, But Shouldn’t Be Overlooked
Even though back pain is common, that doesn’t mean the condition should be ignored. Back pain can significantly interfere with daily life, making people miss work and skip exercising. When pain lasts for 3 months or longer, the condition is considered chronic. In these cases, a pain management specialist can provide treatment options. One innovative way that these specialists offer pain relief is through medial branch blocks and blocking of pain signals.
A diagnostic procedure
A medial branch block is a procedure that affects the medial branch nerves. These small nerves are part of the spine and carry pain signals to the brain. The medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure to determine if a patient’s discomfort is due to the medial nerves.
What happens after the injection?
The procedure involves an injection of anesthetic into the facet joint where the medial nerves are located. If the patient experiences significant relief after the injection, then doctors can conclude that the source of pain is connected to these nerves. Typically, this relief is short-lived, and patients will need a more long-term solution. One of these possible solutions includes radiofrequency ablation.
Heating nerve tissue
During radiofrequency ablation, the pain management specialist uses an electric current to heat nerve tissue. This process can interfere with the nerve sending pain signals to the brain. The procedure can be beneficial for patients suffering from chronic pain. Good candidates for ablation include those with back, neck, joint pain, or arthritis.
How long does pain relief last?
With medial branch blocks, the pain relief only lasts until the anesthetic wears off, typically within hours. After radiofrequency ablation, many patients experience symptom relief for 6-12 months after the procedure. Some experience pain reduction for even longer. The procedure is effective in over 70% of cases and has minimal risks. That said, patients who have bleeding disorders or who have active infections should tell the doctor, as these patients may not be good candidates for the procedure.
Back pain treatment options
Back pain can result from a muscle strain or sprain, a ruptured disc, or an underlying condition like arthritis or osteoporosis. No matter the cause, if back pain becomes chronic, a pain management specialist can help. Speak with a healthcare provider today to begin the conversation about managing back pain and to find out if medial branch blocks are a good treatment option.
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“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”
“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”
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“The staff was very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”
“All staff were wonderful.”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“I liked that it was so clean. Every staff member was pleasant and easy to talk with.”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”
“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”
“Incredibly professional, friendly and confidence of knowing their roles as healthcare employees. Excellent!”
“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”
“The staff was great, especially Mary and Marcia. Marcia was extremely helpful post-op and made sure I was comfortable and well-cared for.”
“All staff were wonderful.”
“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”
“Rebecca was amazing. I have always had trouble in the past with getting an IV started. I told Rebecca I was concerned about it. She got it on the 1st try – no digging in my arm and NO bruising the next day.”
“Dr. Best…is the best!”
“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”
“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”
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“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”
“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”
“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”
“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”
“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”
“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”
“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”
“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”
“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”
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