Facet Joint Injection
What is a Facet Joint Injection?
Facet joints are the small joints that connect your vertebrae together and keep your spine both stable and flexible. Over time however these joints can be subject to wear and tear that can lead to back and neck pain. When this happens, facet joint injections can ease inflammation and reduce neck and back pain.
Facet joint injections are injections at the facet joints to reduce pain. These injections use a steroid that can cut inflammation and relieve the pressure that causes pain. They may also contain an anesthetic to reduce pain right away.
When the medications are injected, they spread to other areas to ease pain there, as well. Facet joint injections can provide rapid relief of symptoms, so you are able to move without pain and regain your active lifestyle.
Why might I need a Facet Joint Injection?
Facet joint injections can be used as a diagnostic tool. If the injection provides pain relief, your doctor now knows that this specific joint is the origin of your pain. This is commonly used as a diagnostic tool to identify arthritis of the spine.
Facet joint injections can also be used to treat these conditions:
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Degenerative Disc Disease
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Herniated or Bulging Discs
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Low Back Pain
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Spinal Stenosis
What happens during the procedure?
A Facet Joint Injection is a simple procedure:
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Our healthcare provider will use an X-ray machine showing moving images on a screen to guide the needle as they make the injection and ensures that the needle is in the correct location.
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The healthcare provider will inject the steroid medicine itself, often along with a local anesthetic to help with pain relief.
What happens after the procedure?
Once the procedure is done, you can return home. Usually, you'll be able to return to normal activities on the next day. The steroids usually begin working within 1 to 3 days. In some cases, you might need up to a week to feel the benefits.