What Is a Facet Block?
Board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jamie Lewis, MD, is licensed to practice in the States of Washington, Idaho, and California. One of the treatment options that Dr. Jamie Lewis uses is a facet block. At each segment of the spine are small joints called facet joints. They provide support and assist in motion. Due to injury of the back, mechanical stress to the back, or arthritis of the spine, pain can be experienced at the facet joint. A facet block involves injection of a local anesthetic medication into the facet joint. The anesthesia numbs the joint or blocks the pain. The pain relief is usually temporary and, depending on the medication, can last for several weeks or months. The pain relief can help a person have more tolerance in performing a physical therapy session designed to improve the back condition or injury. There are usually two objectives for using facet blocks. The first is to assist in diagnosing the location and cause of pain and the second is to give pain relief.
