Thefacetjoints of the spine are located at the back part of the spine.

They exist on every vertebra (small spine bones), and each vertebra has two sets.

The facets prevent excessive motion when the spine turns and bends.

Facet disorders and pain are often because of natural wear and tear on facets over time.

What Does a Facet Joint Do?

Where Are Facet Joints Located?

The facet joints are located along the entire length of the spine on the back of the spine.

You have two facet joints between each vertebraone on each side.

Each facet joint has two bony knobs that connect two vertebrae.

What Does Facet Joint Pain Feel Like?

Pain can sometimes radiate into one or both buttocks, the groin, and thighs.

Sometimes, the pain mimics pain that is brought on by aherniated discornerve rootcompression.

These conditions might present together and cause overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.

Such symptoms include:

While rare, facet joint syndrome might affect the thoracic spine.

What Causes Facet Joint Syndrome?

Facet joint syndrome is often resulting from degenerative wear and tear on the bones associated with aging.

Facet joint syndrome arising from arthritic changes is a common cause of lower back pain.

It affects 15% to 45% of people with chronic back pain.

Symptoms might mimic those of lumbar herniated discs and sciatica.

However, depending on their size and location, they may cause symptoms similar tospinal stenosis.

They might also experience trauma leading to back pain.

Back pain may come and go.

Back pain might radiate in the buttock and thigh in the lumbar spine.

A whiplash injury most commonly occurs after an automobile accident.

They will also check your posture, range of motion, and muscle strength.

Aninjectioncontaining an analgesic (pain reliever) and a corticosteroid might be used as a means of diagnosis.

Treatment: Facet Injections

The same injections used to diagnose facet joint pain can also treat it.

These injections can relieve pain even if you have had it for weeks or months.

These injections are minimally invasive and pose little risk for complications.

Injections help manage facet joint pain in the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions.

They can be given asnerve blocksorintra-articular(directly into the joint).

These injections deliver a local anesthetic and a steroid medication directly into the affected facet joint.

This surgery uses chemicals or an electrical current to destroy nerve fibers that send pain signals to the brain.

Facet joint disorders and pain are often the result of spinal degeneration, injuries, and arthritis conditions.

Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and tenderness that may affect movement.

Surgery is rarely needed to treat facet joint pain conditions.

Back and neck pain that results from an injury or fall needs medical attention.

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