Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Full-Endoscopic Isolation Zone Technique for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation
Published on: April 7, 2023
Bilateral L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglion blocks for discogenic low-back pain
J Richardson1, N Collinghan, A J Scally
1Department of Anaesthetics and Pain, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK. docjohnnyr@hotmail.com
Background:
It is possible that interruption of nociceptive input from intervertebral discs can be modulated through bilateral L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) blockade. In order to test this hypothesis, we prospectively collected data from patients with low-lumbar pain, accurately diagnosed as discogenic using provocation discography.
Methods:
Twelve patients were recruited with a mean (sd) symptom duration of 13.7 (8.2) years. Bilateral DRG blocks of L1 and L2 were performed using methylprednisolone 80 mg, clonidine 75 microg and 0.5% bupivacaine 4 ml in each patient.
Results:
Analysis of Brief Pain Inventories showed no significant change in pain scores.
Conclusion:
We conclude that blocks of this nociceptive pathway in humans using bilateral DRG blocks has no therapeutic value.
Related Concept Videos
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction