Facet Joint Injections

What are facet joint injections?

Your facet joints are part of the framework of your spine. They serve as the connection between the bones of your spine and protect the nerve roots that pass through the joints. These nerve roots provide sensations from your spinal cord to your legs, arms, and other parts of your body.

Due to age-related changes in your spine or a spinal injury, inflammation can develop in your facet joints and cause chronic pain in your lower back or neck. This pain can also radiate down into your buttocks, legs, shoulders, and arms.

Why should I consider facet joint injections?

Without treatment, facet joint pain can worsen over time and lead to stiffness and loss of mobility in the affected area.

If persistent facet joint pain limits what you can do physically, facet joint injections can make it easier to participate in physical therapy and daily exercises to strengthen your spine. 

Facet joint injections focus on relieving persistent inflammation where it starts. The injections contain a mix of a local anesthetic and a steroid medication. The steroid provides long-lasting relief of inflammation, and the anesthetic numbs the irritated nerves by disrupting pain signals that travel from the nerve to your brain.

To ensure the injection goes directly into the area around your facet joint, the team at Advanced Pain Management uses fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray technology, to guide the needle into place. Treatment takes about 30 minutes and has minimal risk for side effects.

What can I expect after a facet joint injection?

Immediately after your facet joint injection, you might feel discomfort in the injection site. You can use ice therapy to prevent swelling and pain. 

Some people feel immediate relief from their chronic pain, but it can take several days for you to feel the maximum benefit of your injection.

You should take time to rest for a day or two after your treatment and then slowly increase your activity. The team at Advanced Pain Management continues to monitor your progress with treatment. If the effects of the injection wear off, the team might recommend additional injections to keep you pain-free.

To find out if you’re a candidate for facet joint injections for chronic back or neck pain, call the Advanced Pain Management office nearest you or book a consultation online today.