Cluneal Nerve Block & RFTC

A cluneal nerve block is a specialized treatment method for chronic lower lumbar back pain, which often radiates to the upper buttocks. Lower back issues are prevalent health concerns in the United States and a leading cause of missed workdays.

Note: For your safety, this procedure cannot be performed if you have an active infection, flu, cold, fever, very high blood pressure, or if you are taking blood thinners. Please inform your doctor if any of these conditions apply to you.

How is a Cluneal Nerve Block Performed?

During the cluneal nerve block procedure, the patient lies face down on a table equipped with X-ray machinery. The skin is sterilized, and if intravenous anesthesia (IV) is necessary, it is administered along with vital sign monitoring (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing). If intravenous anesthesia is not required, topical anesthesia is applied to the lumbar region before the procedure.

Using X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), the clinician precisely guides the injection needle into the lower back. The fluoroscope provides real-time imaging, allowing for accurate needle placement. Once the needle is correctly positioned, a dye is injected to observe its circulation, ensuring the steroid and anesthetic reach the affected cluneal nerves as closely as possible. The block targets the cluneal nerve roots, with the steroid reducing inflammation and the anesthetic providing pain relief.

A recent study reported positive outcomes of nerve block procedures for painful cluneal nerve entrapment. In the study, 25 patients with symptoms of medial and superior cluneal nerve entrapment received a single nerve block containing a steroid and an anesthetic. At the one-year follow-up examination, all patients reported experiencing pain relief.

Like any treatment, there is a possibility of rare complications associated with nerve blocks. These may include tingling and numbness in the extremities, bleeding, infection, or inadvertent nerve puncture during needle insertion.