6 Modified Independence - Patient can be left alone for an entire day but may need some degree of supervision with new or complex activities. Routine activities can be pursued independently. Helper
You may resume normal activities the day after the procedure, unless otherwise directed by your physician. It may take a week or more for you to feel relief after a facet joint injection. Because of the diagnostic nature of a medial branch block, pain relief may start immediately but last only a few hours. Several weeks may be required to feel the full effect of a radiofrequency ablation procedure.
A lumbar medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure used to discern the etiology of chronic back pain related to the lumbar area of the spinal column.It involves injection of a local anesthetic near or around the medial branch nerves of the lumbar spine. lumbar medial branch block can be administered in 15 to 30 minutes. The procedure can be performed in the ambulatory surgery wing of a hospital or clinic. The vital signs and pain scores of the patient are monitored for at least 30 minutes post injection in a recovery area.