03/16/2026
A medial branch block is a diagnostic spine injection used to determine whether facet joints are the source of chronic low back pain.
A medial branch block works by placing a small amount of numbing medication next to the medial branch nerves, which carry pain signals from the facet joints in the spine.
These facet joints help control movement and stability in the spine, and when they become inflamed or arthritic they can cause chronic low back pain.
By temporarily blocking the medial branch nerve, physicians can determine whether the facet joint is the true pain generator. If the injection provides short-term relief for 1โ2 days, it confirms the diagnosis and helps guide the next step in treatment.
Patients who respond to medial branch blocks may benefit from radiofrequency ablation, a longer-term treatment that interrupts the pain signals from the affected nerve.
At the Institute of Orthopedic Spine and Sports (IOSS Medical), we use medial branch blocks as part of comprehensive non-surgical spine care and interventional pain management to accurately diagnose the cause of low back pain before recommending long-term treatment.
Schedule a comprehensive non-surgical spine evaluation today.
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