Intervention Services

for Pain Management

Facet Injections (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar Spine)

 

 

Facet Injections

A facet injection is a relatively common and minimally invasive procedure that can help to relieve neck or back pain caused by inflamed or irritated facet joints. The cause of facet joint pain whether it is related to arthritis, injury, or degeneration, can be similar in nature to disc pain. This procedure has two main purposes;

1. It can be used as a diagnostic test to see if the pain is actually stemming that particular facet joint.

2. It can and is most often used as a treatment to relieve inflammation and/or pain that is caused by various spine conditions.

The effects of facet injections can range from temporary to long lasting, providing relief for several days to potentially even years. The goal is to minimize pain so the patient may resume normal activities and if necessary, take part in a physical therapy program.

 

What is a facet injection?

A facet injection includes two medications, an anesthetic numbing agent (i.e. lidocaine or bupivacaine) as well as a long-lasting corticosteroid (i.e. methylprednisolone or triamcinolone ). The drugs are administered to the painful facet joint, either in the tissue surrounding the joint capsule or inside the actual joint capsule. Each vertebra has a total of four facet joints, one pair that connects to the vertebra below (inferior facets) while the other pair connects to the vertebra above (superior facets).

Corticosteroid injections aim to reduce discomfort and inflammation, and can be very effective when delivered directly into the area that is most painful. The pain relief can last from days to years, allowing you to improve your spinal condition with physical therapy and an exercise program. Most insurance providers cover facet injections and allow up to three in one year.

Facet injections also provide diagnostic information for your physician. The injection works to “block” the pain, much like a dentist uses an anesthetic injection to block pain in your jaw before working on your teeth. Injections into joints or nerves are sometimes referred to as “blocks,” or "Selective Nerve Root Blocks (SNRB)."