• What it targets: The medial branch nerves, which carry pain signals from the facet joints (in the neck, mid-back, or low back).

• What’s injected: A small amount of local anesthetic (sometimes with a little steroid).

• Purpose:
  • Diagnostic – If pain relief occurs, it suggests the facet joint is the source of pain.
  • Therapeutic (short-term) – Relief usually lasts hours to days.

• How it’s done: Under fluoroscopy (X-ray) guidance, the needle is placed near the medial branch nerve; the joint itself is not injected.

• What happens next: Significant temporary relief may qualify the patient for radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which can provide longer-lasting pain control.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that provides lasting relief to those suffering from lumbar, cervical or thoracic facet joint pain. In fact, selected clinical studies show that RFA significantly reduces pain for 6 months or longer in patients.

• Before: Your doctor will confirm your diagnosis. If you are a good candidate for RFA.

• During: RFA may be performed while you’re awake, but sedated. Your back is numbed with a local anesthetic. Using x-ray imaging, your doctor inserts a needle and electrode and guides them to the treatment area. A high-frequency electrical current then passes through the electrode,
  heating up and “lesioning” the sensory nerve

• After: After the procedure, your blood pressure and pulse will be monitored before you go home. You may feel sore or have pain in the treated area, but most people are able to return to work and normal activities within 3 days. Pain relief is typically experienced 1-3 weeks after RFA.

• Benefits of the RFA procedure:
  • Longer-lasting pain relief compared to
    steroid injections
  • Low complications
  • Greater range of motion
  • Lower use of analgesics
  • Improved quality of life
  • Short recovery time