You can end up with debilitating neck or back pain when problems develop in the spine’s facet joints. If you live with spine-related pain that fails to respond to conservative medical care, you owe it to yourself to meet with the exceptional physicians at Pain Consultants of Atlanta. As pain-relief specialists, they have helped many people overcome spinal pain with facet joint injections. To learn more, call the nearest office or book online today. They have four convenient locations in Atlanta, Fayetteville, Stockbridge and Newnan, Georgia.
Facet joint injections deliver anesthetic and/or steroid medications into the joints that connect spinal vertebrae. Each vertebra has two facet joints that stabilize your spine while allowing you to bend and twist.
Facet joint injections can be diagnostic and therapeutic. A diagnostic injection uses an anesthetic to determine if your pain comes from inside the joint.
After verifying facet joint problems are the source of your pain, your provider injects a therapeutic injection, usually using both medications to reduce inflammation and give you longer-lasting relief.
Facet joints may be small, but they have the same structure as larger joints like your knees. The bones are covered by cartilage that allows smooth movement, and the joint is lined by soft tissues (the synovium) that produce lubricating fluids.
A facet injection eases your pain when the tissues inside the joint are damaged or inflamed. Osteoarthritis is the most common reason for needing an injection. You could also have facet joint pain due to an injury or other problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, a slipped vertebra, or pinched nerves.
Facet joint problems cause neck or back pain, depending on which vertebrae are affected. Many people have severe pain that limits their ability to move and may make walking difficult.
You could develop headaches if the damaged facet joints are in your neck. You may also have pain traveling down your arms or legs when the damaged tissues pinch a nerve.
You won’t experience pain during a facet joint injection because your provider uses a local anesthetic to numb the area. Though sedatives aren’t routinely used, they are available if you’re anxious about the procedure.
Your provider uses real-time X-ray imaging to see the joint and guide the needle into the joint. Then they inject the medication.
The anesthetic provides immediate but short-lived pain relief. Steroids need time to reduce inflammation inside the joint. After they take effect, many patients get several months of pain relief, but the duration is different for each person.
If you need relief for neck or back pain, call Pain Consultants of Atlanta or use online booking today to learn about your personalized treatment options.