Facet joint pain is one of the most frequent causes of neck and lower back pain that can disrupt your daily routine. These little joints in the back of your spine provide stability and enable easy movement. Yet they are vulnerable to trauma, inflammation, and wear, as with everything else in life, and develop what’s called facet joint syndrome.
Neck-area facet joint pain, also referred to as cervical facet joint syndrome, is particularly prevalent. It typically results in pain in the neck that can radiate into the shoulders and upper back. Some individuals even have headaches, muscle stiffness, or arm or hand numbness. When it involves the lower back, problems with the lumbar facet joints usually result in a dull, aching pain that frequently worsens after sitting or lying down for some time. At times, the pain even radiates down to the hips, thighs, or knees.
There are a few reasons why facet joints can begin to be a problem. The most prevalent reason is simply age—given enough time, the cartilage in facet joints breaks down and places additional strain on them. Injuries sustained during sports or accidents, or repetitive actions and poor posture, can also cause issues. Underlying conditions, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, may exacerbate facet joint pain.
Symptoms depend on where the pain is and how severe it is. In the neck, you may have stiffness, pain on turning your head, or arm weakness. In the lower back, it may hurt more in the morning or after exercise, and you may have stiffness or even a grinding feeling in your back.
To diagnose facet joint pain, physicians typically begin by taking your medical history and performing a physical examination. They’ll examine your range of motion, muscle strength, and alignment of your spine to identify areas of concern. Occasionally they’ll take imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, but in many cases, a thorough examination will suffice.
Treatment first commonly begins with simple, non-surgical procedures. Physical therapy makes a big difference, with exercises and stretches that strengthen muscles that support your spine. Developing good posture habits and weight loss, if you need to lose weight, also relieve pressure on the joints. Physicians may also prescribe pain medications or anti-inflammatory drugs to ease discomfort.
If the pain does not subside, more complex measures such as steroid injections or nerve radiofrequency ablation may be contemplated. Steroid injections can quiet inflammation and provide relief for a period ranging from a few days to several years. Nerve ablation, which destroys the pain-producing nerves, can give relief for up to two years.
Working with pain in the facet joints is a challenge, but with proper understanding and care, it’s purely manageable. Awareness of what the cause of pain is and observing the symptoms makes you one step closer to taking the treatment required and returning to living your life more comfortably.
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