Pain-medicine specialist–led care
Midline facet-joint pain or pain radiating down the arm — we confirm the true source with targeted diagnostic blocks and MRI, then treat it with image-guided, minimally invasive procedures.
Chronic neck pain can arise from several structures — the muscles, the facet joints that link each vertebra, or a nerve root compressed by a herniated disc. Effective treatment starts by confirming which one is responsible, rather than cycling through painkillers.
At YOUNIFY we use small diagnostic blocks and MRI (for radiating symptoms) to confirm the source first. Every procedure that follows is minimally invasive and guided by fluoroscopy or ultrasound.
Two symptom patterns, two pathways — choose the one that matches your pain
A small local-anaesthetic injection at the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints. If the pain eases clearly, the facet joint is confirmed as the source.
Clear relief points to facet joint pain. Little or no relief usually means the pain is muscular, which is managed with physiotherapy, massage, and trigger point injections.
Radiofrequency energy quiets the pain signal from the confirmed facet joints — 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 | Confirming facet joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Medial branch RF | Confirmed facet joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Facet joint injection (steroid / prolotherapy) | Adjunct for facet joint pain | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Cervical epidural steroid injection | Nerve-root pain radiating to the arm | Fluoroscopy | Needle only | Yes |
| Selective cervical nerve root injection | A single confirmed nerve root | Ultrasound | Needle only | Yes |
| Trigger point injection | Muscular neck 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 neck 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.