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If you’re dealing with whiplash after an accident, a medial branch nerve block may make all the difference in your recovery. Read on to learn how.
Whiplash is one of the most common auto accident injuries. Caused by a rapid jolt to your neck or lumbar area, similar to the crack of a whip, whiplash often causes intense pain, stiffness, and mobility challenges.
A medial branch block (MBB) can play a vital role in your whiplash recovery, in terms of both diagnostics and pain relief.
Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, provides post-accident care, including nerve blocks, to help you heal efficiently and restore your quality of life.
How accidents cause whiplash symptoms
Car accidents, from fender benders to more complex crashes, often involve a sudden impact that jolts your spine and neck. Whiplash happens when that jolt damages bones, ligaments, muscles, or nerves in your neck or along your back.
In addition to neck pain and back pain, whiplash can cause:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Memory or concentration problems
- Radiating arm pain
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
Whiplash symptoms can also interfere with your sleep, energy levels, and moods.
How medial branch nerve blocks work
Your medial branch nerves are located in the facet joints of your spine. Because they transmit pain signals to your brain, disrupting them minimizes your pain. During the nerve block procedure, we inject a local anesthetic near the nerves to accomplish just that.
Medial branch nerve blocks can also help your provider pinpoint problematic nerves and confirm (or rule out) a whiplash diagnosis.
The needle we use during the MBB procedure is very thin, and the procedure requires only a short in-office visit.
When to consider a medial branch nerve block
We may recommend a medial branch nerve block to confirm the source of your whiplash pain. If your pain greatly diminishes immediately following your nerve block injection, your facet joints are the main cause of your whiplash pain.
A MBB can also help if conservative care — such as a brace or over-the-counter medication — hasn’t sufficiently improved your whiplash pain.
After your medial branch nerve block
Pain relief from a medial branch nerve block starts within minutes and may last for hours or days.
If intense whiplash pain returns as the MBB wears off, we may recommend an additional procedure, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Using heat to quiet damaged nerves, RFA results tend to last for 6-18 months.
Other pain treatments we may suggest include epidural injections, prescription medications, particular exercises, and physical therapy. After a comprehensive exam and any needed imaging tests, we’ll customize a treatment plan.
To learn more about medial branch nerve blocks or get on the path to prompt whiplash relief, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.