====== Lumbar medial branch ====== {{ ::lumbarmedialbranche.jpg|}} The lower spine is lined with small joints called [[lumbar facet joint]]s. These [[joint]]s contain medial nerves that submit pain signals to the brain when the joint has become inflamed. A [[lumbar medial branch]] [[block]] is a numbing injection administered to the nerves of an inflamed [[facet joint]] in the lower back. The medication blocks’ pain signals, relieving lower back pain and [[sciatica]]. By undergoing a lumbar medial branch block, Turnersville patients can determine the exact location of their pain and create a plan for treating it. The numbing from a block injection is only temporary, usually lasting only hours. But despite its short term benefits, a lumbar medial branch block is highly useful as a trial procedure to determine whether a [[radiofrequency]] ablation can provide a patient with long term pain relief of up to six months or more. see [[Lumbar facet joint nerve block]].