Spine Center > Facet Joint Block

What is a facet block injection and how is it performed?
A facet block injection is a treatment that provides temporary relief of back pain, as well as a test to find out whether facet joints are the source of a patientís back pain. The injection is inserted into the facet joints, which are located on each side of the vertebra and connect the vertebra of the back together. The injection helps reduce inflammation in the tissue of the facet joint. The injection is performed with the patient lying on his or her abdomen. Prior to the injection, the area of the skin where the medication will be injected is cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic. With the use of fluoroscopy (live x-ray) or CT, the radiologist injects a mixture of local anesthetic and steroid medication into the facet joint.

Before the Procedure:
You will be contacted by one of the patient coordinators and be asked to provide information regarding your demographics, past medical history, and medications. She will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for the upcoming procedure. You must bring your most recent MRI or CT film/CD with you. You will be asked to hold any blood thinning medications such as Coumadin, Plavix, Aspirin, and any NSAIDS. Any insurance questions can be answered by your referring physician.

The Day of the Procedure:
We ask that you do not eat or drink 4 hours prior to your arrival. We do not dispense or provide prescriptions for medications. You will need someone to drive you home. Patients without a driver will be rescheduled for another day.