Do you have pain in your back? If so, you might suffer from facet joint syndrome. You have small joints on the sides of each vertebra, responsible for providing your back with the mobility you expect. Sometimes, you may develop pain or discomfort in your back, which could signify facet joint syndrome. We are Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management and would be pleased to help you treat this condition. Learn more about facet joint syndrome below, and schedule your consultation with facet joint syndrome experts in OKC today.
What is Facet Joint Syndrome?
You have small joints located on the back of your spine. These joints are located at every level of the spine on each side. There might be some situations where these joints do not work properly, and it can contribute to a condition known as facet joint syndrome.
This condition develops when the cartilage covering the ends of the individual facet joint starts to wear down. The cartilage can become then, and it can contribute to improper enlargement of the joints and the growth of bone spurs. When this happens, you can develop a wide variety of symptoms that hinder your ability to move your back properly.
Even though facet joint syndrome can occur in any location throughout the back, it is most commonly located at the top or bottom of the back. This means that the cervical vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae are the most common locations impacted by this condition.
What Are the Most Common Facet Joint Syndrome Symptoms?
Like other conditions, various symptoms can present; however, the symptoms can vary in their presentation depending on the scope and severity of facet joint syndrome. Some of the most common facet joint syndrome symptoms include:
- You may have chronic back pain, which might get worse when you try to move.
- You may experience pain radiating from your back down the shoulder, ear, or head.
- You may also experience lower back pain that can travel to your thigh, hip, or buttocks.
- Your spine may also feel a bit stiff. You might have a different range of motion than you usually do.
- You may experience stiffness early in the day, but as time goes on, your symptoms may improve.
Several underlying conditions could contribute to this condition. For example, if you have poor posture, a history of traumatic accidents, or an underlying diagnosis of degenerative disk disease, it may increase your chances of developing facet joint syndrome.
How Is Facet Joint Syndrome Diagnosed?
Generally, facet joint syndrome diagnosis is made using a thorough history and physical exam alone. The doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms you experience, looking for many of the signs mentioned above. Then, the doctor will do a detailed physical exam, closely examining your spine for symptoms of facet joint syndrome.
There are certain situations where your doctor may order imaging scans. A few examples include an X-ray, a CT scan, or an MRI. The doctor will look for indications on the image that are consistent with facet joint syndrome. If other diagnostic measures are needed, you will be informed about them at the appointment.
What Are the Best Facet Joint Syndrome Treatment Plans?
Even though facet joint syndrome can adversely impact your overall quality of life, multiple treatment options are available. For example, medications can help you recover.
- Medications for Facet Joint Syndrome: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as anti-inflammatory medications, can be beneficial. Ice and heat can help you relax your back, addressing facet joint syndrome.
- Posture Correction and Exercises: We will also work with you to help you improve your posture and reduce your chances of developing worsening back pain with facet joint syndrome exercises.
- Facet Joint Injections: If these conservative treatments are not helpful, there are other options available. For example, we may recommend facet joint injections, which can help reduce inflammation in your back.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: We may also recommend a radiofrequency ablation to particularly problematic target nerves. We will use fluoroscopic guidance to make sure we are completely accurate if we need to provide injections or perform radiofrequency ablation.
There are other treatment options available as well, but we will discuss them on a case-by-case basis. We want to understand exactly why you have developed facet joint syndrome and where the problem is. Once we have the necessary information, we can put together a treatment plan to address this condition from all angles, putting you in the best position to recover.
Epidural Steroid Injections for the Neck and Back Pain
At Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management, we are proud to offer epidural steroid injections for neck and back pain. There are different reasons you might suffer from neck and back pain, and one of the most common reasons is facet joint syndrome.
If you have serious facet joint syndrome symptoms leading to neck and back pain, we might be able to use epidural steroid injections to tamp down inflammation and reduce chronic pain. This is one of the top facet joint pain treatments if over-the-counter medications have not worked, but you do not want surgery.
We can administer this facet joint syndrome treatment to reduce discomfort and improve mobility. Contact us to schedule an appointment if you want to learn more about this treatment option.
Discogram Imaging To Identify Spinal Disk Issues
To decide on the best treatment option for your needs, we need to figure out what is going on in your spinal column. For example, there might be issues involving your spinal discs that are contributing to back pain. Using a discogram, we can evaluate your discs’ health to see if an abnormal disk is impacting your spine. For example, a disk might be out of place, pressing on your spinal column. Or, one of your disks might be dehydrated, leading to chronic pain. Based on this information, we can decide on the best action.
Knee Injections for Acute and Chronic Pain
Finally, we also offer a variety of treatment options for knee pain. Some of the most popular treatment options we offer include:
- Genicular Block: We can use a genicular block to silence nerves contributing to chronic knee pain.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: RFA, also known as radiofrequency ablation, can target the genicular nerves responsible for your pain and discomfort.
- Gelsyn: We also offer Gelsyn, which can be used to provide more cushioning for your knee. If you have bones rubbing together, contributing to inflammation, we can address this issue using Gelsyn.
These are just a few of the many treatment options we have available. We understand that everyone’s knee pain is different, and it would be our pleasure to customize your treatment plan to meet your needs.
Call Us Today To Schedule an Appointment For Facet Joint Syndrome Treatment in OKC
Chronic back pain can be debilitating, but it is not something that you need to deal with on your own. At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we have significant experience treating different conditions. We are confident that we can also help you treat facet joint syndrome. We will ensure that we diagnose your condition accurately and work with you as a team member to develop a treatment plan. Feel free to contact us today in OKC, and let us help you recover from facet joint syndrome while minimizing possible complications and side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Lumbar facet joint syndrome is a clinical condition that is caused by injury to one or more facet joints. The injury is often caused by excessive rotation of the facet joints. Patients suffering from lumbar joint syndrome often experience the following symptoms:
- Mechanical back pain
- Radicular symptoms
- Neurogenic claudication
- Acute or subacute trauma
- Pain and stiffness
Lumbar facet joint syndrome cannot be cured, but the pain can be controlled with the right treatment.
Book a ConsultationUnfortunately, no. There is no cure for facet joint syndrome. However, you can always manage your symptoms and the pain associated with it. Physical therapies, medication, lifestyle changes, and targeted management of your back can help you manage your symptoms better. If in case of extreme pain and discomfort, you must visit Dr. Robinson. Your doctors can advise you with anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medications to manage the pain better.
Book a ConsultationThere are several ways in which you can manage your facet joint syndrome symptoms. You must get started on physical therapy because it helps to reduce pressure on nerves and reduce inflammation. Similarly, injecting steroids into the facet joints with the help of medical personnel can provide you with long-term pain relief. Your doctor might also prescribe you with some anti-inflammatory medications to give you short-term relief.
Book a ConsultationWhen the facet joints of the spine found in the back portion of the vertebrae get injured, inflamed, or start to deteriorate, your body will experience cervical facet joint syndrome. It is a type of Osteoarthritis that results to:
- Neck pain
- Upper back pain
- Pain forming between shoulder blades
- Headaches targeting the back of the head
- Weakness
- Arm pain
Absolutely! At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we provide facet joint syndrome treatment and also provide facet joint injections for pain relief. Our primary care physicians have years of experience with facet joint syndrome and have treated hundreds of patients. Depending on your condition and the seriousness of the pain, our physicians will recommend an effective treatment plan that will give you instant relief and also aim for long-term relief treatment. So, if you want to manage your facet joint syndrome symptoms, you can always reach out to our team.
Book a ConsultationIf you want to find good physical therapy services that also specialize in facet joint syndrome in Oklahoma, you can easily trust Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management. We specialize in treatments related to facet joint syndrome and also provide physical therapies that mainly target the pain caused by facet joint syndrome. Our therapies help to reduce inflammation caused by facet joint syndrome and provide long-term relief to your pain. Our therapies also target mobility while reducing pain.
Book a ConsultationEven though you can never permanently cure facet joint syndrome, you can always manage the symptoms and the pain. Some of how you can manage your symptoms are:
- Anti-inflammatory medications prescribed by the physician
- Physical therapy targeting facet joint syndrome
- Joint injections for pain relief
- Nerve blocks
- Nerve ablations
However, managing the symptoms at home can be extremely difficult, so you must visit the nearest hospital for medical assistance.
Book a Consultation
