Central Valley Pain Management

  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • All Services
    • Injections
    • Suboxone Therapy
    • Forms & Fees
  • PATIENTS
    • Telehealth
    • Patient Portal
    • New Patient Packet
    • Narcan & Naloxone
    • Contracted Insurances
    • Reschedule Appointment
    • Refill Request
  • DOCTORS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
(209) 571-1992(209) 571-1994
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Info
  • Medial Branch Blocks & Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management
 

BLOG

Brenna Hill
Thursday, 20 January 2022 / Published in Info

Medial Branch Blocks & Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management

It is becoming increasingly more common for patients to seek alternative methods for managing their chronic or recurring pain symptoms, than it has been traditionally. Alleviating long-term pain is often tied to the use of prescription narcotics, which can be addictive and have adverse effects on one’s health. In instances where alternative forms of pain management may be implemented, we believe exploring those options is a great step. Below, we outline two options of alternative pain management, Medial Branch Blocks and Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs). 

Medial Branch Blocks

Facet joints are structures found in the spine, where two vertebrae connect together. The joints help to control movements of the spine and provide support and stability for the vertebrae. Pain originating in the facet joints has been listed as a main source of neck and back pain reported by patients. In addition to facet joint pain, chronic or recurring pain in a patient’s back or neck may be from prior injury, trauma, or Arthritis. 

Before a medial branch block is suggested as a form or treatment, patients are usually given steroid injections to help determine the effectiveness a medial branch block would have if used. Steroid injections are administered directly into where the facet joints causing pain are located, and are composed of an anesthetic & a steroid. If the steroid injections reduce pain dramatically for a patient, a medial branch block may be suggested as the next step in a patient’s pain management plan. 

Medial branch blocks target the nerves (medial branch nerves) that send sensory information to the facet joints. Instead of using only anesthetic and steroids, a needle also containing substances that destroy nerve tissue are injected. The result, if performed correctly, is a semi-permanent disruption of pain signal transmission and therefore the relief of face joint pain. While steroid injections may cause relief for a few months, medial branch blockers have been known to provide relief for up to two years. In addition to the back, medial branch blocks can be administered at the cervical level (near the neck) to provide cervical area relief as well. 

Epidural Steroid Injections

In addition to avoiding the use of prescription drugs, some patients seek alternative pain management options to avoid or defer having major or invasive surgery. For lower back and leg pain, epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are often used. Much like the facet steroid injections, an epidural steroid injection also contains an anesthetic and a steroid. Instead of being injected into a facet joint, it is injected into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. ESIs are administered in the hopes of providing relief to chronic or recurring pain, that will allow a patient to return to performing their everyday activities pain free.

Typically, up to 3 ESIs can be given over a 12-month period to a single patient, with relief from each injection lasting from 1 week up to 1 year. ESIs are often used for acute pain relief, as they are rather effective, however their long-term effects have not been as widely documented.

While both medial branch blocks and epidural steroid injections carry with them their own side effects, they are usually rare, and not long-term. If you are interested in a less invasive option than surgery, and moving away from prescription drugs, one of these options could be a great addition to your personal pain management plan. Please reach out to our team if you are interested in more information, or a consultation, about any of the options discussed in the article above. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you on your journey to living a happy, healthy, pain free life. 

  • Tweet

What you can read next

Vitamin D & Pain Management
Pharmaceuticals Take Back Day
Managing Chronic Pain In The Workplace

Search

Recent Posts

  • Effective Pain Management: Understanding Bursa Injections and How They Can Help with Bursitis, Tendinitis, and Arthritis

    Bursa injections, also known as bursa sac injec...
  • Managing Pain Through the Holidays

    Tis the season for stress and pain triggers. He...
  • 5 Tips for Easing Joint Pain in Cold Weather

    Stay Active It’s critical to keep your body act...
  • Sports Injury Pain Relief Management

    Types of sports injuries Some of the most commo...
  • 4 Home Remedies for Foot Relief

    Sore feet are very common and affect mostly eve...

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • January 2020
    • November 2019
    • April 2019
    • February 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • September 2018
    • July 2018
    • May 2018
    • March 2018

    Categories

    • Info
    • News

    CVPM

    CVPM evaluates all significant aspects of a patient’s chronic pain condition & constructs an effective, safe & appropriate pain management program for their independent needs. Our physicians are committed to achieving this result with every patient.

    PAGES

    • Home
    • Services
    • About
    • Contact

    RECENT NEWS

    VIEW ALL
    • Effective Pain Management: Understanding Bursa Injections and How They Can Help with Bursitis, Tendinitis, and Arthritis

      January 14, 2023
    • Managing Pain Through the Holidays

      December 8, 2022

    NEWSLETTER

    Recieve our latest news straight to your inbox

    © 2021 CVPM All rights reserved. | Designed by Rare Digital
    TOP