The facet joints are small joints at each vertebral level that provide stability and guide spinal motion. When these joints become arthritic, inflamed, or injured, they can cause significant back and neck pain. IPC offers a progressive treatment pathway: diagnostic blocks to confirm the pain source, followed by long-lasting radiofrequency ablation.
Our specialists use fluoroscopic guidance for all facet joint procedures to ensure precise targeting and optimal outcomes. From initial diagnosis through long-term pain management, we tailor each step to your specific condition.
Whether you are experiencing chronic neck pain, lower back pain, or mid-back discomfort originating from the facet joints, our comprehensive approach can help you find lasting relief.
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A facet joint injection delivers a small amount of corticosteroid and local anesthetic directly into an arthritic or inflamed facet joint. This procedure serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes — if the injection relieves your pain, it confirms the facet joint is the source of your symptoms.
Conditions treated include facet joint arthropathy (arthritis), facet joint syndrome, cervical facet pain (neck pain and headaches), lumbar facet pain (lower back pain), thoracic facet pain (mid-back pain), and whiplash-related facet injury.
Using fluoroscopic guidance, a thin needle is directed into the facet joint capsule. The local anesthetic provides immediate temporary relief, while the steroid reduces inflammation over the following days. Therapeutic relief typically lasts 1-3 months.
Learn MoreA medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure that temporarily numbs the small medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints. It is the gold-standard diagnostic test for facet joint pain and is required by most insurance companies before approving radiofrequency ablation.
Under fluoroscopic guidance, small amounts of local anesthetic are placed directly onto the medial branch nerves. Each facet joint is innervated by medial branch nerves from two levels, so both must be blocked for an accurate test. If the block provides significant temporary pain relief (typically 50-80% improvement), the facet joints are confirmed as the pain source.
The diagnostic block lasts only a few hours. Most insurance companies require two separate diagnostic blocks on different days showing consistent relief before approving radiofrequency ablation.
Learn MoreRadiofrequency ablation (RFA), also called radiofrequency neurotomy or facet denervation, uses heat generated by radio waves to create a precise lesion on the medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from arthritic facet joints. By disrupting these pain-carrying nerves, RFA provides long-lasting pain relief — typically 6-18 months.
This treatment is for confirmed facet joint pain after positive diagnostic medial branch blocks. It is effective for facet arthropathy, spondylosis, and facet-mediated headaches in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine.
The procedure takes 30-60 minutes. Success rates exceed 70-80% in properly selected patients. The treated nerves eventually regenerate, at which point the procedure can be repeated. Many patients experience progressively longer relief with subsequent treatments.
Learn MoreReducing Pain. Improving Function. Enhancing Quality of Life.
We specialize in advanced pain management solutions, offering minimally invasive treatments to help patients live pain-free and improve their quality of life.