Facet Block Treatment in India

Myra Patel is a 58-year-old high...

Myra Patel is a 58-year-old high school biology teacher who has always been active, gardening and hiking with her husband. For the past two years, she's been plagued by a deep, aching pain in her lower back that radiates into her right hip. It's sharp and catching when she twists to write on the whiteboard or bends to tend her roses. Over-the-counter pain relievers and months of physical therapy provided only fleeting relief. The constant discomfort made her irritable in class and she withdrew from her beloved hikes, feeling like a spectator in her own life. Her spine surgeon, after reviewing her MRI which showed arthritis in the lumbar facet joints, recommended a diagnostic facet block. He explained it as a targeted injection of anesthetic to 'turn off' the specific joint suspected of causing pain. If it worked, it would confirm the source. Myra was nervous but desperate. The procedure itself was quick, done with X-ray guidance. She felt pressure and a strange warmth, but the local anesthetic kept it manageable. Within an hour, the deep ache she'd lived with for years was dramatically reduced. This positive response confirmed the diagnosis. While not a permanent cure, the block gave her a window of significant pain relief. She used this pain-free period to aggressively restart her physical therapy with renewed hope. Emotionally, she moved from frustration and grief over her lost mobility to optimism. The procedure wasn't a magic bullet, but it was a crucial map, showing her and her doctor the right path forward for longer-term management.