Pain Management & Interventional Spine
Nerve Blocks & Facet Joint Injections
Nerve blocks and facet-joint injections use targeted anesthetic and steroid to pinpoint and treat the source of chronic pain. They help both diagnose and relieve back, neck, and joint pain in a same-day outpatient visit.
AVERAGE PROCEDURE TIME
15 to 30 minutes
Anesthesia
Local, optional light sedation
Recovery
About 1 hour
Ride home
Required if you receive sedation
Overview
Facet joints and specific nerves can be tested individually with a small amount of anesthetic. If pain drops sharply, the source is confirmed.
That diagnostic answer both provides relief and determines whether radiofrequency ablation will work for longer-lasting results.
Is this right for me?
Candidacy is confirmed after a review of your history, imaging, and medications. Patients we most often treat include those with:
- Neck or back pain worse with extension or twisting
- Pain that has not localized on imaging alone
- Consideration of radiofrequency ablation
- Joint or peripheral nerve pain needing confirmation
What to expect, step by step
Arrival and preparation
You check in with a coordinator, change into a gown, and meet your nurse. Vitals are taken, an IV is started if needed, and your care team reviews the plan and answers questions with your caregiver present.
Targeted placement
Under fluoroscopy, a fine needle is placed at the medial branch nerve or joint capsule.
Test injection
A small anesthetic volume is delivered and you record your pain relief over the next several hours.
Recovery suite
You rest in a private recovery bay while your nurse monitors vitals and comfort. Written instructions are reviewed with you and your caregiver before discharge.
Home the same day
A caregiver drives you home. A member of our team calls the next business day to check on you and confirm your follow-up appointment.
Recovery
Keep a simple pain diary for the first 24 hours. That record guides the next step.
Soreness at the needle site for a day is normal and responds to ice.
Risks and what we watch for
Every procedure carries risk. These are the ones we discuss most often for this procedure.
- Bleeding, bruising, or soreness at the access site or incision
- Infection, which is why sterile technique and, when indicated, antibiotics are used
- Reaction to sedation, anesthesia, or contrast dye, monitored continuously by your anesthesia provider
- Incomplete relief of symptoms, or symptoms that return over time
- The need for additional treatment, imaging, or a different procedure
- Rarely, a complication serious enough to require a higher level of care than an outpatient setting provides
We review these with you in detail before you consent, and you can change your mind at any point.
Coverage note
We verify your benefits and give you a written estimate before scheduling.
Prepare for this procedure
- Before your surgery
- The day of your procedure
- Anesthesia and sedation
- Recovery at home and when to call
Frequently asked questions
What if relief only lasts hours?
That is expected for a diagnostic block and it confirms the target for radiofrequency ablation.
Can I drive home?
Yes if you had local anesthetic only. Sedation requires a driver.
Is nerve blocks and facet injections done as an outpatient procedure?
Yes. It is performed at our ACHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center in The Woodlands, minutes from Tomball and Spring, and patients go home the same day with a caregiver.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage depends on your specific plan and benefits. Our team verifies your benefits and gives you a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
Do you offer Spanish-speaking support?
Yes. Bilingual English and Spanish coordination is available from your first call through recovery instructions and follow-up.
