Medial Branch Block (MBB): What It Means After a Crash

Your doctor mentioned a medial branch block, and you nodded along without really knowing what it meant. If you were hurt in a crash and now face spinal injections, you deserve a clear explanation, both of the procedure and of what it means for your injury claim. Here is what an MBB is, in plain language.

After a car accident, back and neck pain can linger long after the bruises fade. When it does, doctors often look to the small joints along the spine as a possible source, and a medial branch block is one of the main tools they use to investigate. Understanding the procedure, and why it matters beyond the exam room, helps you make informed decisions and protect your claim.

What is a medial branch block (MBB)?

A medial branch block is a targeted injection used to find out whether the facet joints in your spine are causing your pain, and it is a well-established procedure described by resources like Spine-Health. The facet joints are the small joints that connect your vertebrae and allow your spine to bend and twist. Tiny nerves called the medial branches carry pain signals away from these joints, and an MBB places a small amount of local anesthetic near those nerves, usually with imaging guidance to position the needle precisely.

The goal at this stage is information, not a cure. By temporarily numbing the medial branch nerves, the procedure tests a simple question: if these nerves stop sending signals and your pain drops, then those facet joints are very likely the source of your pain.

How does a medial branch block work as a diagnostic test?

The logic is straightforward. After the anesthetic is injected, your doctor asks you to track how much your pain improves over the next several hours while the numbing lasts. Significant temporary relief points to the facet joints as the culprit. Little or no relief suggests the pain is coming from somewhere else, which is useful information too.

Because the relief from the anesthetic is short-lived, an MBB is generally a diagnostic step rather than a long-term treatment. Doctors often repeat the block to confirm the result before moving on to a longer-lasting procedure. Your physician will explain how many blocks they recommend and why.

What is radiofrequency ablation, and how is it different?

If one or more medial branch blocks confirm that the facet joints are the source of your pain, a doctor may recommend radiofrequency ablation, sometimes called radiofrequency neurotomy. This is where the longer-lasting relief comes in. Using needles placed in the same area, the doctor passes radiofrequency energy through a small electrode to create a controlled lesion on the medial branch nerves, interrupting their ability to transmit pain signals.

Think of the block as the test and the ablation as the treatment that follows a positive test. Relief from ablation commonly lasts somewhere in the range of six months to a year, though it varies from patient to patient. It is not a guaranteed or one-size-fits-all outcome, and your doctor is the right person to explain what you can realistically expect.

Is a medial branch block a permanent fix?

Not exactly, and it helps to understand why. Radiofrequency ablation does not remove the underlying injury. It quiets the nerves that carry the pain, and over time those nerves can regenerate, which is why relief eventually wears off and some patients repeat the procedure. That can make it feel like a temporary patch.

But there is another way to look at it. These procedures buy real relief while your body works through a slow healing process, and some patients improve enough over time that they do not need to repeat them indefinitely. Whether that will be true for you depends on your specific injury and your body, and it is not something anyone can promise in advance. Your treating physician can give you the most accurate picture.

💡 Did You Know? In a Florida car accident case, you generally cannot recover for pain and suffering unless your injury meets a legal threshold, such as a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability. Diagnostic and treatment procedures like a medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation are part of how physicians document the nature and persistence of a spinal injury. Source: Fla. Stat. § 627.737(2).

Why does a medial branch block matter for your injury claim?

Insurance companies love to describe back and neck injuries as minor soft-tissue strains that will resolve on their own. A medial branch block cuts against that narrative in a powerful way, because it is objective and diagnostic. When a block pinpoints a specific facet joint as the source of your pain, it connects your symptoms to an identifiable injury rather than a vague complaint, which is exactly the kind of evidence that holds up under scrutiny.

These procedures also carry real weight in the value of a claim. They are meaningful medical expenses, they show that your pain was serious enough to warrant an invasive intervention, and when future radiofrequency ablations are likely, the projected cost of that ongoing care can become part of your damages. For serious cases, a life care plan can help account for those future treatments. This is also closely tied to reaching maximum medical improvement, which we explain in our guide to how your case progresses during the pre-suit phase.

⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11, you generally have two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, even if you are still undergoing spinal injections and other treatment. This was shortened from four years in March 2023. Waiting until treatment ends to speak with a lawyer can cost you the claim entirely.

Who pays for a medial branch block after a car accident?

In Florida, your own Personal Injury Protection coverage generally pays first, regardless of who caused the crash. The catch is that PIP is capped at $10,000, and invasive procedures like these can exhaust that quickly. Once PIP runs out, your health insurance may cover continued care, or in some cases a provider will treat you under a letter of protection, agreeing to be paid from your eventual settlement.

Ultimately, when another driver caused your injuries, the cost of this treatment is part of what you can pursue from the at-fault party. Sorting out how each procedure is paid, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks, is one of the practical ways a lawyer helps while you focus on getting better.

🛡️ Your Rights Under Florida Law: Under Florida Statute § 768.81, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and you may be barred from recovery if you are found greater than 50% responsible. Insurers often try to blame you or minimize your injuries, and an experienced Tampa injury lawyer works to protect the facts and keep your assigned fault as low as the evidence allows.

Watch: What a Medial Branch Block Means After a Crash

If you prefer to hear it explained, the short video below walks through the medial branch block procedure and what it means.

When you are ready to talk through your own situation, The Reyes Firm offers free consultations with no obligation.

What should you do if you’re facing spinal injections after a crash?

These five steps protect your health and your claim at the same time. The order matters.

1. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and keep every appointment. Your health comes first, and consistent treatment also creates the medical record that documents your injury. Do not skip visits.
2. Keep detailed records of every procedure. Save dates, providers, costs, and how much relief each block or ablation gave you. Those details are both medically and legally important.
3. Do not let an insurer pressure you to settle early. If you may still need radiofrequency ablation or repeat procedures, settling before your treatment is understood can leave those future costs uncovered.
4. Track how the pain affects your daily life. Note the impact on your work, sleep, and activities, since that human cost is part of what your claim accounts for.
5. Call The Reyes Firm before accepting any offer. A lawyer can make sure your treatment is documented and valued properly. Call 833-4 BAD DAY for a free consultation.

How The Reyes Firm handles your injury case

When your injuries require procedures like spinal injections, your case deserves a lawyer who understands what that treatment means and how to prove it. We handle that for you, throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County.

When we take on an injury case involving spinal treatment, we typically:

• Gather your complete medical records, including the documentation of every medial branch block, ablation, and imaging study, so nothing about your treatment is overlooked
• Work with your treating physicians and medical experts to explain your injury and procedures clearly to the insurer and, if needed, a jury
• Highlight the diagnostic significance of a block that pinpoints the source of your pain, countering the insurer’s attempt to call it a minor injury
• Account for future care, including the projected cost of repeat procedures, so your claim reflects the long-term reality of your injury
• Calculate full damages, covering past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and the impact the injury has had on your life
• Handle all insurance communication on your behalf, countering lowball offers and preparing your case as if it will go to trial

No lawyer can promise an outcome, and we do not give medical advice. What we can promise is that we take your injury seriously, make sure your treatment is documented properly, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Frequently asked questions about medial branch blocks

What is a medial branch block used for?

It is used mainly as a diagnostic test to determine whether the facet joints in your spine are the source of your pain. By temporarily numbing the medial branch nerves, it helps your doctor confirm or rule out those joints before recommending further treatment.

Is a medial branch block the same as radiofrequency ablation?

No. A medial branch block is a short-acting diagnostic injection, while radiofrequency ablation is a longer-lasting treatment that follows a positive block. The block tests the source of your pain, and the ablation treats it.

How long does the relief from these procedures last?

Relief from a diagnostic medial branch block typically lasts only a few hours, which is expected. Relief from radiofrequency ablation commonly lasts around six months to a year, though it varies by patient. Your doctor can explain what to expect in your case.

Does a medial branch block hurt?

The procedure is generally brief and performed with a local anesthetic and imaging guidance to place the needle accurately. Any discomfort and recovery expectations should be discussed with your physician, who can address your specific situation.

Why does my lawyer care about my medial branch block?

Because it provides objective evidence that your pain has a specific, identifiable source, which counters the insurance company’s claim that your injury is minor. It also represents a meaningful medical expense and can point to future care that becomes part of your damages.

Can these procedures help show my injury is permanent?

They can be part of the picture. In a Florida car accident case, Fla. Stat. § 627.737(2) generally requires a permanent injury before you can recover for pain and suffering, and the documentation from these procedures helps physicians describe the nature and persistence of a spinal injury. The permanency determination itself is made by your doctors.

Who pays for a medial branch block after a car accident?

In Florida, your own PIP generally pays first, up to its $10,000 limit, which invasive procedures can exhaust quickly. After that, your health insurance may apply, or a provider may treat you under a letter of protection, and the cost is ultimately part of your claim against the at-fault driver.

Will I need to repeat these procedures?

Possibly. Because the treated nerves can regenerate over time, relief from radiofrequency ablation eventually wears off, and some patients repeat the procedure while others improve enough that they do not. Your treating physician is the best source for what to expect.

About the Attorney

Edward Reyes, Esq.

Edward Reyes, Esq. is a Florida Bar-admitted personal injury attorney and the founder of The Reyes Firm in Tampa, Florida. He represents people injured by the negligence of others in cases involving car accidents, truck crashes, and serious spinal and neck injuries throughout Tampa and the surrounding counties. Edward Reyes, Esq. handles personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation for them.
Read more about Edward Reyes.

The information in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and is neither medical advice nor legal advice. It does not describe every risk, benefit, or alternative of any procedure, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship with The Reyes Firm. Decisions about medical treatment should be made with your physician, and every case is unique. If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, consult a licensed Florida personal injury attorney about your specific situation.