Quick update.

This is going to be short and sweet on account of sitting hurts..A lot. Lately. I had my MRI, I have a herniated disc in my low back that is causing all my pain. I am going to need back surgery but I think it's going to take a while. So in the mean time they are sending me for what is called a 'Medial branch block' ...Here is the jist of it.

Medial Branch Nerve Block Procedure

As with many spinal injections, medial branch blocking procedures are best performed under fluoroscopy (live x-ray) for guidance in properly targeting and placing the needle (and for avoiding nerve injury or other injury).

On the day of the injection, patients are advised to avoid driving and doing any strenuous activities, and to get plenty of rest the night before.

The injection procedure includes the following steps:
•An IV line will be started so that adequate relaxation medicine can be given, as needed.
•The patient lies on an x-ray table, and the skin over the area to be tested is well cleansed.
•The physician treats a small area of skin with a numbing medicine (anesthetic), which may sting for a few seconds.
•The physician uses x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) to direct a very small needle over the medial branch nerves.
•Several drops of contrast dye are then injected to confirm that the medicine only goes over these medial branch nerves.
•Following this confirmation, a small mixture of numbing medicine (anesthetic) will then be slowly injected onto each targeted nerve.

The injection itself only takes a few minutes, but the entire procedure usually takes between fifteen and thirty minutes.


Medial Branch Block Video

After the procedure, the patient typically remains resting on the table for twenty to thirty minutes, and then is asked to move the affected area to try to provoke the usual pain. Patients may or may not obtain pain relief in the first few hours after the injection, depending upon whether or not the medial branch nerves that were injected are carrying pain signals from the spinal joints to the brain. On occasion, patients may feel numb or have a slightly weak or odd feeling in their neck or back for a few hours after the injection.

The patient will discuss with the doctor any immediate pain relief. Ideally, patients will also record the levels of pain relief during the next week in a pain diary. A pain diary is helpful to clearly inform the treating physician of the injection results and in planning future tests and/or treatment, as needed.

All in all, not excited.