Home
How to Reach Us
Contact Information
Our Physicians and Staff
Who Can We Help
What to Expect from Us
Referral Information
Fees and Insurance
Frequently Asked
Questions
Links to Other
Helpful Resources
|
|
 |
|
< Back
Facet Injections
- What
is a facet injection or medial branch block?
- What
are the risks of this procedure?
- Will the
injection hurt a lot?
- What
happens during the actual procedure?
- How will
I feel after the injection?
- Will
I have any restrictions on the day of this procedure?
- For
what reasons should I call the Pain Management Center
after the injection?
-
What is
a facet injection or medial branch block?
An inflammation of the joints between the spine bones is
common reason for Back Pain. When this does not respond to
the usual Painkillers, the best alternative is an
injection of local anesthetic and steroid into the joint
per se. This is called a facet joint injection.
A medial branch block is similar but the medication is
placed outside the joint space, near the nerve that
supplies the joint called the medial branch (steroid may
or may not be used). You may require multiple injections
depending upon how many joints are involved.
A facet injection or medial branch block may be
therapeutic and/or diagnostic. One of three things may
happen:
-
The Pain does not go away - which means that the
Pain is probably not coming from the blocked facet
joints - this has diagnostic value.
-
The Pain goes away and stays away for a few hours
but the original Pain comes back and doesnąt get
better again. This would mean the block was also of
diagnostic value -the Pain is probably coming from the
joints, but the steroid was not of benefit.
-
The Pain goes away after the block, it then may come
back later that day, but then the Pain gets better
again over the next few days. This means that the
block was of therapeutic value - the steroid had a
long lasting effect on the Pain.
If you improve for a long period of time, the injections
may be repeated, as needed. If you improve for a short
period of time another procedure (radiofrequency
lesioning) may be performed for a longer Pain relief
effect.
Note: The procedure cannot be performed if you have an
active infection, flu, cold, fever, and high-uncontrolled
blood pressure or if you are on blood thinners. Please
make your Pain doctor aware of any of these conditions.
This is for your safety!
Back to Top
-
What are
the risks of this procedure?
As with most procedures, there is a remote risk of
bleeding, infection, nerve injury, or allergic reaction to
the medications used.
Some short-term side effects may occur. If local
anesthetic spreads to nearby nerves you may have weakness
or numbness that can last for few hours. If this happens
you may have to stay in the Pain Management Center until
this resolves. You may have increased Pain for a few days
after the injection, including localized Pain at the
injection site. Diabetics may have short-term elevation of
blood sugars. People prone to fluid retention may have
increased fluid retention for 1-2 weeks.
Back to Top
-
Will the
injection hurt a lot?
Most people say the stinging/burning of the numbing
medicine is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure.
Back to Top
-
What
happens during the actual procedure?
Make sure that all your questions will be answer before
signing the consent form. Once that is done, you vital
signs will be checked and if all within normal range, the
procedure will be started under fluoroscopy (x-ray)
guidance, with you lying on your stomach. For procedures
in the neck an intravenous is started. The back is then
cleansed with an antiseptic soap. Sterile drapes are
placed. The skin is anesthetized (numbed) with a local
anesthetic. This is felt as a stinging or burning
sensation for few seconds only. Using x-ray guidance,
needles are then advanced to the appropriate locations
(the joints or the medial branch). Once the needle tip is
felt to be in the proper location local anesthetic with or
without steroid is injected and the needles are removed.
Your skin will be cleansed and a band-aid will be applied.
Back to Top
-
How will I
feel after the injection?
Your Back Pain may be improved immediately after the
injection from the local anesthetic. It is important to
keep track of how you feel for the remainder of the day.
The steroid, when used, takes two or three days to have on
effect in most people and peaks in about two weeks.
Some local tenderness may be experienced for a couple of
days after the injection. Using ice packs three or four
times a day will help this. You may take your usual Pain
medications.
It is important that you keep track of the amount of Pain
relief you received as well as how long the Pain relief
lasted.
Back to Top
-
Will
I have any restrictions on this day of the procedure?
You may not drive for the remainder of the day after your
procedure. An adult must be present to drive you home or
to go with you in a taxi or on public transportation. The
procedure will be canceled if you donąt have a
responsible adult with you. This is for your safety.
No heat is to be used in the injected areas for the
remainder of the day.
No tub bath or soaking in water (i.e. pool, Jacuzzi, etc.)
for the remainder of the day.
If the injections are in your neck you may take your
medications as usual with a sip of water but do not eat or
drink for six hours before the procedure. You may eat,
drink and take your medications as usual on the day of the
procedure (both before and after) if the injections will
be in your low back. Please follow the above instructions
unless told differently by your Pain doctor.
Back to Top
-
For
what reasons should I call the Pain Management Center
after the injection?
If you experience severe Back Pain, new numbness or
weakness of your legs, or signs of infection in the area
of the injection, you should call the Pain Management
Center right away at (401) 729-4985 during office hours or
go to the closest emergency room if after office hours or
on holidays and weekends.
Back to Top
|
