Medial Branch Blocks (MBBs) are a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used to relieve pain coming from the facet joints in the spine, typically caused by conditions like arthritis or injury. These joints can become irritated, leading to pain in your neck, back, or hips. During the procedure, a doctor injects a local anesthetic near the medial branch nerves, which transmit pain signals from the facet joints to your brain. By temporarily numbing these nerves, the injection helps determine if they are the source of your pain. If the block successfully relieves your pain, it suggests that the facet joints are the problem, and further treatments, like radiofrequency ablation (RFA), may be recommended for longer-lasting relief. MBBs typically offer short-term pain relief lasting from a few hours to a few days, with the potential for longer-term solutions based on the results.
