Pain-medicine specialist–led care
Midline facet or SI-joint pain, or sciatica-type pain radiating down the leg — we confirm the source with targeted diagnostic blocks and MRI, then treat it with image-guided procedures from RFA to epidural steroid injection and balloon neuroplasty.
Chronic low back pain has several possible sources — the muscles, the facet joints, the sacroiliac (SI) joint, or a nerve root compressed by a herniated disc. Each one is treated differently, so confirming the source comes first.
At YOUNIFY we use targeted diagnostic injections and MRI (for radiating symptoms) to identify the pain generator, then treat it with minimally invasive, image-guided procedures — most of them same-day.
Two symptom patterns, two pathways — choose the one that matches your pain
Depending on the suspected source, a small local-anaesthetic injection tests the facet joints or the sacroiliac joint. Clear relief confirms the pain generator.
Relief points to facet joint or SI joint pain. Little or no relief usually means muscular pain, managed with physiotherapy, massage, and trigger point injections.
Radiofrequency energy quiets the pain signal from the confirmed facet or SI joint — needle-sized entry, outpatient, fast recovery.
Every procedure is performed by a pain-medicine specialist, with image guidance — fluoroscopy or ultrasound — on every case.
All options are minimally invasive, outpatient procedures
| Procedure | Best for | Image guidance | Invasiveness | Home the same day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic medial branch block / SI joint injection | Confirming facet or SI joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) | Confirmed facet or SI joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Facet / SI joint injection (steroid / prolotherapy) | Adjunct for joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Epidural steroid injection — transforaminal / interlaminar / caudal | Nerve-root pain radiating down the leg | Fluoroscopy (caudal: ultrasound possible at L5/S1) | Needle only | Yes |
| Pulsed RF of the nerve root | When ESI is unsuitable or insufficient | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Epidural balloon neuroplasty | Persistent radicular pain with adhesions | Fluoroscopy | Fine catheter | Yes |
| Trigger point injection | Muscular back pain | Landmarks / ultrasound | Needle only | Yes |
Care for facet joint pain is delivered in two steps — first a diagnostic medial branch block (a test injection of local anaesthetic at the nerves supplying the joint) to confirm the source of pain, and if the pain eases clearly, treatment with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by our medical team.
A medial branch block is a test injection of local anaesthetic at the nerves that supply the facet joints. Its purpose is to confirm a diagnosis of facet joint arthropathy and to predict how well you may respond to nerve ablation, using X-ray guidance with contrast dye to confirm the nerve position and the spread of medication.
This injection is diagnostic, not a permanent treatment. If your pain eases clearly after the injection, the doctor will schedule radiofrequency ablation as the next step.
RFA uses high-frequency radio waves to treat the nerves that carry pain signals from the inflamed joint, reducing pain without affecting the function of other nerves. It is offered to patients who respond to the medial branch block test with a clear reduction in pain.
Beyond radiofrequency ablation (RFA), several image-guided injection treatments are available, chosen by our medical team according to the cause of your pain. Preparation, aftercare, and precautions follow the same protocol described below.
An injection into the facet joint itself under X-ray guidance, to reduce inflammation and ease pain from a worn or inflamed joint. A steroid may be used to reduce inflammation, or prolotherapy to stimulate tissue repair — offered as an adjunct for patients confirmed to have facet joint pain.
An anti-inflammatory medication such as a steroid, together with local anaesthetic, is delivered into the epidural space to reduce inflammation of the nerves supplying the arm or leg. It is performed under X-ray with contrast dye to confirm the position, and suits people with pain radiating to the arm or leg from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis that has not responded to medication and physiotherapy. On average the pain relief lasts about 2–3 months, and it also helps pinpoint the source of the pain.
An injection targeted precisely at the specific nerve root causing the pain, under ultrasound or X-ray guidance. It both confirms which nerve root is responsible and reduces inflammation at that point — suited to people with pain clearly radiating along a single nerve root.
* Indicative prices for reference only. Final pricing depends on an individual assessment. Overseas prices are indicative market estimates for comparison only — contact our team for a personalized quote.
Common questions about back pain procedures
Book an assessment with our pain-medicine team and find the pathway that matches your symptoms.
Individual results may vary. Please consult a doctor before treatment.