Section 1 of 6
Define the facet hypothesis
Avoid diagnosing from an image alone.
Risks and benefits
Intended benefit
A temporary anesthetic response can help test a facet-pain hypothesis and inform a radiofrequency-treatment decision. The useful outcome is interpretable diagnostic information, rather than durable relief from the block itself.
Risks and tradeoffs
Discuss procedure-site pain, bleeding, infection, medication reactions and unintended vascular or neural effects. Sedation, broader anesthetic spread and changes in activity or other analgesics can also distort the result.
Make the decision together
Record baseline pain during a relevant activity and repeat a comparable assessment afterward. Consider competing pain sources and use the stated selection criteria for further treatment.