What are Facet Joint Pain Treatments?

By Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD and Mahendra Sanapati, MD

Facet joint pain is one of the most common pain symptoms with neck, mid back, and low back pain. These major structures in the spine, on each side of a vertebral body, allow us to bend forward, backward, and side to side. Facet joints can cause pain secondary to arthritis, degeneration, and also sprain and strain. Facet joint pain is typically limited to the low back, mid back, or neck with some radiating into the extremities. Facet joint pain is deep, bony, throbbing, and aching, rather than sharp or shooting, like an electric shock or radicular pain.

   Facet joint pain can be diagnosed with a history, physical examination, and x-rays, but most importantly with diagnostic facet joint nerve blocks. Facet joint nerve blocks are also known as medial branch blocks and are performed by placing a small needle over the nerve supply of the joint and injecting a local anesthetic. If facet joint pain is confirmed, further treatment can involve repeat injections once in 3 to 6 months with therapeutic medial facet joint nerve blocks or once in 6 months to a year with radiofrequency neurotomy which is an application of heat to the nerves.

Radiofrequency Neurotomy

The application of heat from radio waves to the nerves around facet joint.

  An interventional pain physician can make the diagnosis of facet joint pain and manage the pain, reduce pain, increase function, and help make life easier to live.

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Dr. Manchikanti talks Facet Joint Pain

Click to view a short video: https://youtu.be/YTxzoHQGA_A