How much does a private facet joint injection cost in the UK?
General information only. Not medical, insurance or legal advice. Coverage rules and prices change, so confirm with your insurer or public health service (such as the NHS, HSE or Medicare) before booking, and ask your doctor whether a procedure is right for you.
Published prices
Published starting prices at the UK hospitals we checked range from about £2,055 to £3,027 for a facet joint injection and about £2,875 to £3,525 for radiofrequency ablation, depending on what is included.
Providers that publish prices include Cromwell Hospital (London) and The Horder Centre (Crowborough).
Prices change and depend on what is included, so ask the provider for a full written quote before you book.
These are “from” guide prices from the hospitals’ own pages. Always ask for a written quote.
Before you pay
NICE and the Evidence-Based Interventions programme say not to offer facet joint injections for back pain on its own, and paying privately doesn’t change that evidence. If your specialist suggests one, ask why it suits your situation and what the plan is afterwards.
- Is this to diagnose the pain (a medial branch block) or to treat it?
- If it is diagnostic, what happens next if it works, and what will that cost?
- Are the consultant, anaesthetist, scan and follow-up included?
- What exercise or physiotherapy plan goes with it?
Frequently asked questions
Why is a facet injection more expensive than an epidural at some hospitals?
Prices differ in what they include, such as professional fees, imaging and the number of levels treated. Compare what each quote includes.
What usually comes first
NICE advises help to self-manage and suggests considering a group exercise programme for low back pain, with manual therapy only as part of a package that includes exercise. It says not to offer spinal injections for managing low back pain. Some NHS policies, such as Leicester’s, expect physiotherapy and exercise to have been tried first.
- Chronic low back pain exercise routine (4 phases)
- Lower back pain exercises: knee rolls, pelvic tilts, bridges
- Free printable low back pain exercise sheet (A4 and US Letter)
- 6-week low back pain recovery programme
A physiotherapist can tailor an exercise plan to you.
Sources
- Cromwell Hospital: Pain injections (self-pay prices)
- The Horder Centre: Self-pay treatment prices (guide prices from 1 January 2026)
- NICE guideline NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s, recommendations 1.2.1 to 1.3.6
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Evidence-Based Interventions: injections for non-specific low back pain without sciatica (reviewed September 2024)
- NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, Policy for medial branch block and facet joint injection
Last checked October 2026. Found something out of date? Email hello@protocolarchive.com.
This page explains how coverage usually works, using public NHS, insurer, ombudsman and government sources listed above. It is general information, not medical, insurance, financial or legal advice, and it does not recommend any treatment, policy or provider. Rules differ by area and by policy and can change, so confirm with your GP, your insurer or the hospital before you decide. Protocol Archive is independent and is not affiliated with the NHS, the HSE or any insurer.