A nerve root block is the placement of a needle and injection of a combination of local anesthetic and steroid into the sheath surrounding a nerve root in the spine. A block is performed to determine if a specific spinal nerve root is the source of pain and reduce inflammation around the nerve root thus decreasing or relieving the pain. Franklin Moser, MD, Chief of Neuroradiology, heads our team of imaging physicians, nurses and technologists who specialize in this procedure.
The facet block is a diagnostic test to localize the source of your pain by determining if your pain responds to the injection of medication. Alternatively, this procedure is used to treat symptoms arising from facet joint arthritis.
The precise location for the needle placement is determined with imaging guidance. You may experience brief, temporary sensations of pain or an electric shock sensation down the leg. Iodinated contrast is injected to confirm the location of the needle tip.
