Treating Lumbar Facet Joint Pain

Within the spine are a series of joints that connect the 33 vertebrae. These joints are known as facet joints and their job is to help the spine move properly while also helping to stabilize the spine. Everything from getting older to traumatic injury to the spine can damage the facet joints, which in turn can lead to lumbar or lower back pain. Find out what a pain management doctor can do to treat lumbar facet joint pain.

Signs of Facet Syndrome

When patients deal with facet joint pain, we often call it facet syndrome. The symptoms you experience will depend on which facet joints are impacted. For example, if you have inflamed cervical facet joints you will experience pain in the neck, upper back, and shoulders. Some patients even experience headaches. Those with lumbar facet joint pain will experience pain in their lower back that may radiate to the buttocks, groin, and thighs. It’s most common for people to experience facet joint pain in the neck or back rather than mid-back.

Treating Facet Syndrome

When you visit a pain management doctor the first thing they will do is go through your medical history and perform a physical exam. They will also ask questions regarding the symptoms you are experiencing. While some diagnoses can be made through a simple physical examination, often, imaging tests are required to diagnose facet syndrome.

Once your pain management doctor has diagnosed you, they can get to work creating your treatment plan. Some of the treatment options include:

• Massage therapy
• Spinal manipulation therapy
• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Muscle relaxants (to reduce spasms)
• Ergonomics and posture correction

If conservative care fails to provide the patients with relief, your pain management doctor may recommend more aggressive treatment options such as facet joint injections or medial branch blocks, which administers medication directly into the facet joints to reduce severe pain and swelling. Sometimes other treatment options such as radiofrequency ablation may be used in conjunction with injections to improve symptoms.

Many times, the injections can be done in the office under ultrasound guidance.

If you are dealing with lower back pain that is impacting your daily routine and quality of life, a pain management specialist can provide you with unique and more customized care to help you better control your symptoms.