Facet Joint Syndrome OKC
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 Pain Doc 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 disc 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 Disc 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 disc is impacting your spine. For example, a disc 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 OK Pain Doc, 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.
