Arizona – June, 2017 – Many chronic back pain patients suffer from Facet Syndrome – a condition in which the cartilage between the vertebrae wears out due to overuse, injury or degeneration. This results in inflammation, severe pain that may radiate out from the source and development of bone spurs.A facet joint injection is a precise diagnostic and therapeutic tool that can be highly effective in treating pain for facet syndrome and spinal arthritis patients.
Facet Joint Injection
Facet joint injections combine a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory medication. Using fluoroscopic or X-ray guidance, pain doctors can see and precisely target the affected joint(s). The injected medication relieves pain, inflammation and other symptoms being caused by the involved joint.
Since the facet joint injections are performed using local anesthetic, facet joint injections present the great benefit of offering immediate feedback in confirming the source of your pain.
Once the source is confirmed, a small spinal needle is inserted into the facet joint, and the combination of the anesthetic and medication are injected using fluoroscopic guidance.
Both diagnostic and therapeutic facet joint injections are safely performed on an outpatient basis. It takes between 20 to 30 minutes and is followed by approximately 45 minutes of observed recovery time. Patients are advised to take it easy on the day of the procedure but can resume activities the following day.
Facet joint injections are generally limited to three within a six-month time frame. In many instances, only one or two injections are required to obtain benefit.
The procedure may also be followed by radiofrequency ablation for lasting relief, which may be repeated every one to two years, if necessary.
Facet joint injections have been performed safely for many years with very positive outcomes. You can return to your usual activities the following day after the procedure. The pain relief benefits from facet joint injections typically begin on the second to third day. With radiofrequency ablation, most patients begin improving within two weeks. Successful radiofrequency neurotomy typically provides relief for 9 to 14 months, and for some patients up to two years and beyond. Both the facet joint injections and radiofrequency ablation provide immediate, significant and sustained pain relief without any complications and down time of potentially risky surgery.
If you are looking for the top Arizona pain management clinic, call Desert Interventional Spine Consultants (DISC) at 480-838-1914. DISC is committed to providing the highest quality interventional pain management in Arizona with cutting edge treatments and precise diagnostic tests.
Desert Interventional Spine Consultants take a personalized approach to understanding dysfunction at its core. Working with each patient’s unique history, diagnostics and lifestyle, the top pain doctors create individualized treatment plans.