My next shot

My back is feeling a lot worse.  Next up is a medial branch block.

What is a medial branch block?

A medial branch block is an injection of a strong local anesthetic on the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints. The facet joints are part of the bony framework of the spine. They are small bony projections from one vertebra meeting with similar bony projections from the vertebra above or below. Sometimes the facet joints can become inflamed. For lower back (lumbar) facet joints, the pattern of pain is usually an achiness in the low back, radiating across the lower back and slightly down the back of the buttocks and upper thighs. Usually, standing or bending backward worsens the pain. The injection consists of a small amount of long acting local anesthetic.