Cervical medial branch blocks are test injections for selected people whose neck pain may be coming from the facet joints.
What happens?
Medial branch nerves carry pain signals from these joints. Professor Bateman uses X-ray guidance to place a small amount of local anaesthetic near the selected nerves. The aim is to see whether temporarily blocking their signals changes your usual pain.
What happens afterwards?
You will be asked to keep a pain diary. Record your pain and the activities that usually provoke it while the anaesthetic is working. Relief may wear off within hours or days. Your response helps guide a later discussion about radiofrequency denervation.
What are the alternatives and risks?
Exercise, physiotherapy, medication and self-management remain options. Temporary soreness can occur. Infection, bleeding, allergic reaction or unintended effects on nearby nerves are uncommon but possible.
A diagnostic block is a step in assessment, not a promise of lasting pain relief. Professor Bateman will discuss with you whether the result is strong enough to support another procedure.
Read about cervical radiofrequency denervation →
Detailed patient leaflet
Read Professor Bateman’s information leaflet before your procedure and bring any questions to your consultation.
Open the PDF leaflet →