Chronic pain is one of the worst experiences for anybody, whether in their back or neck. Almost everyone has experienced some chronic pain at any point in their lives. It can impact your mobility, mood, and ability to perform daily tasks. Unfortunately, many people resort to surgery as the only solution without exploring all other options. This article will discuss an alternative non-surgical option called "medial branch nerve block."
What is a medial branch nerve block?
The medial branch nerve block involves injecting a small quantity of anesthetic into tiny nerves that supply sensation to the facet joint within your spine. The goal of this injection is to numb the area temporarily and break down pain signals sent to your brain.
• When Medication Fails
• Process Improvement
• Expectation vs. Reality
• My Experience with Medial Branch Nerve Block
When medication fails
For some people struggling with chronic pain, conservative approaches like exercise and medication may not be enough to relieve them fully from their symptoms. That's where more invasive procedures come into play, such as spinal fusion surgeries or nerve ablation procedures that use heat/cold waves to destroy problematic nerves within the spinal column.
While these options are approved for those who have exhausted non-invasive treatments like medications and therapy sessions, these require general anesthesia and several days off work after the procedure due to possible postoperative side effects.
Process Improvement
On the other hand, Medial Branch Nerve Block (MBNB) involves no hospital admittance or significant downtime before returning home. It is also known as a 'day surgery.' It can take less than thirty minutes worth of preparation time before receiving treatment-related services by most clinics since they send competent teams equipped with pre-procedure materials needed directly to the patient's doorstep!
Expectation vs. Reality
Patients must review the benefits and risks with the practitioner, like any other medical treatment. There are also general precautions before having an MBNB procedure, like avoiding anti-inflammatory medications or blood thinners for several days prior.
There may be some discomfort following your injection that lasts up to a few days at worst, depending on individual pain thresholds.
For most patients who receive the medial branch nerve block, it’s common for sensations of numbness to be reported in areas targeted by this injection. This is usually followed by complete relief within a couple of weeks before suffering returns again after six months. Although repeat injections can help prolong good response times within alternative treatments compared to surgery.
My Experience with Medial Branch Nerve Block
I was curious about MBNB but still very skeptical since I had undergone surgery before, which did not work out well for me; but boy, was I wrong!
It started with joint pain in my lower back that gradually progressed until my doctor said he would administer the medial branch nerve block. This ended in some anxiety, having been told what could go wrong yet unable to comprehend further details.
Afterward, though, everything went smoothly, thanks to the proficiency & competence of the team. I then asked questions about each step taken beforehand instead of worrying about what might happen if something unexpected occurred while undergoing MBNB treatment.
In conclusion
Chronic pain sufferers have options like non-surgical interventions and practicing preventative measures. So, if you're struggling with chronic pain, don't be afraid to explore all possible options before surgery. Medial branch nerve block could prove a non-invasive, reliable remedy for managing chronic pain symptoms.
