Medial Branch Block Treatment in India

Reyansh Kumar, a 58-year-old civil engineer,...

Reyansh Kumar, a 58-year-old civil engineer, had been managing chronic lower back pain for nearly a decade. The pain, a deep, persistent ache that radiated into his right buttock, began after years of heavy site supervision and a minor fall from scaffolding. It had gradually stolen his ability to enjoy weekend hikes with his grandchildren and made long hours at his desk agonizing. Over-the-counter painkillers provided only fleeting relief, and physical therapy helped maintain function but didn't touch the core pain. His neurosurgeon, after reviewing his MRI which showed facet joint arthritis at L4-L5, recommended a Medial Branch Block as both a diagnostic and potentially therapeutic procedure. Reyansh was apprehensive but desperate for a clearer path forward. The procedure itself was quick, performed under local anesthesia with X-ray guidance. He felt pressure and a brief, strange sensation as the numbing medication was injected near the nerves supplying his painful facet joint. Within an hour, he experienced a significant reduction in his familiar ache, a 'quiet' he hadn't felt in years. This positive response confirmed the facet joints as his pain source and paved the way for a longer-term solution (radiofrequency ablation). Emotionally, Reyansh moved from a place of weary resignation to one of cautious hope. The successful block wasn't a cure, but it was a definitive answer and a critical step toward reclaiming his active life with his family.