Which intervention is used for diagnostic and therapeutic management of facet-mediated neck pain?

• A. Epidural steroid injection
• B. Cervical facet joint injection or medial branch block
• C. Spinal cord stimulation
• D. Radiofrequency ablation

Answer: (B)

Facet pain arises from the joints in the spine, which are innervated by tiny medial branches of the dorsal rami. To identify and treat this source, clinicians use targeted nerve blocks. A cervical facet joint injection or a medial branch block temporarily interrupts pain signals from those joints. If the patient experiences substantial relief after the block, it strongly suggests the facet joint is the pain generator. That same approach can also deliver medication to reduce inflammation and provide therapeutic relief, making it useful not only for diagnosis but also for short- to intermediate-term management. This dual diagnostic and therapeutic role is why this intervention is the best choice for facet-mediated neck pain. Other options target different problems (radicular nerve root inflammation, broader neuropathic pain, or longer-term relief after a positive diagnostic test) and aren’t primarily diagnostic tools for facet pain.