LUMBAR MEDIAL BRANCH BLOCK
For Low Back, Hip, Groin and Leg Pain
What is a lumbar medial branch block?
A lumbar medial branch block (LMBB) also known as a lumbar facet joint block is an injection of a numbing agent to the medial branch nerves that serve the facet joints. This injection will stop pain signals from the medial branch nerves for a few hours and this allows your provider to diagnose and/or confirm lumbar spondylosis.
What conditions can a LMBB treat?
LMBB may be an effective treatment for any condition that arises from facet joint inflammation or irritation. These conditions include osteoarthritis of the spine, facet arthropathy, spinal injuries, neuropathic spine conditions.
How does a LMBB work?
The medication stops medial branch nerves from sending pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. The treatment may reduce pain in the low back, hips, groin and legs. LMBB may also resolve other symptoms which stem from facet arthropathy including complex regional pain syndrome and other neuropathic conditions temporarily.
How is the LMBB performed?
The patient lays face down and the lumbar spine is visualized using fluoroscopy (continuous x-ray). While using sterile techniques numbing medicine is injected in the skin and tissue near the vertebrae. A needle is then placed, using bony landmarks, close to the medial branch nerves and an anesthetic is injected along the nerve.
What to expect after LMBB?
You will not take any pain medication prior to the procedure. The injected anesthetic will quickly take effect and you may receive a significant reduction in your pain. Following the procedure and without the use of pain medication, you will be asked to stay active and assess your pain reduction. We hope to have an 80% reduction in your pain for at least 3 hours following the injection. This procedure serves as a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of lumbar spondylosis. If you have two positive LMBBs you can then have a Lumbar Radio Frequency Ablation which allows for 6 to 12 months of pain reduction.