Facet Joint Injections
What are facet joints?
The facet joints are small joints in the back of the spine that form connections between each vertebra. If these joints are blocked or numbed, they will not be able to transfer the painful sensation to the brain. Therefore, this procedure is completed to see if your back (or neck) pain is caused by the facet joints.
At Aptiva Health, we offer same-day and walk-in appointments for spine injuries and conditions to evaluate, diagnose, and make the appropriate referral for additional treatment based upon your specific spine injury or condition. We treat spine injuries and conditions in our Spine, Pain Management, General Medicine, Orthopedics, and Physical Therapy departments. Facet joint injections are performed by Dr. Steven Ganzel at Aptiva Health.
How is the procedure performed?
The patient lies on his/her stomach. The skin of the back or neck is cleansed with antiseptic solution and a local anesthetic is injected to numb the area. A small needle is then guided using an X-ray to the targeted facet joints which are then numbed. Then small amount of X-ray contrast may be injected to ensure correct needle placement. An anesthetic and steroid is then injected into the joint. The injection takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.
Will the injection hurt?
There is some discomfort with needle insertion which is minimized by numbing the skin over the joint with a local anesthetic. You will also experience some burning as the anesthetic medication and steroid are injected into the joint.
How long does the effect last?
The effect might last a few hours to a few weeks or much longer. Pain relief in the first couple of hours after the injection is the most important as this tells us if the diagnosis of facet joint mediated pain is correct. If the symptoms do return, we will discuss other options available for extended pain relief, such a radiofrequency nerve ablation.
What is the next step after the injection?
You will be given a pain log to complete after the procedure. This will help us to measure your response to the injection and determine the next most appropriate plan of care. Please bring your pain log with you to your follow up appointment.
What are the risks and side effects?
Serious side effects and complications are rare. The most common problem after the injection is having pain in the area of the injection for a few days. The other complications are infection, bleeding and nerve injury. These complications are minimized by stopping blood thinners, using sterile technique, and fluoroscopy for x-ray needle guidance.