The facet joints, found on both sides of the back of the spine, can become painfully irritated or inflamed. A facet joint injection may help diagnose the source of a patient’s pain. It can also relieve pain and inflammation.
Facet injections are non-surgical treatments to relieve pain and inflammation of the facet joints in the spine. Facet joints are located on the top and bottom of each vertebra. Facet joints connect the vertebrae to form the spine and allow back motion. Facet injections target pain coming from the facet joints. The treatments can help relieve pain in your neck, low back, and legs. Facet pain and inflammation can be caused by spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, sciatica, arthritis, and herniated disc. You may be a candidate for facet injections if you have spine-related pain that is not relieved by conservative treatments. Facet injection treatments involve injecting the facet joint capsule or surrounding tissue with corticosteroid and anesthetic medication. Facet injections can also be used for diagnostic purposes to determine if the cause of your pain is actually coming from your facet joint.
Before receiving facet joint injections, an NY spine specialist will conduct some additional screening. These steps ensure that your body can handle the injections and that they offer the best option for your treatment plan.
The first step your medical provider will take is to review your medical history. Understanding the full scope of your past operations, medication history, and chronic conditions ensures that you can safely take medication directly into the joint. Be ready to answer any questions the doctor might have about your medical history, and bring records of current medications.
After a medical history review, your care provider will perform a physical examination to assess the current level of your pain and range of motion. During this portion, they may also take your vitals to rule out additional causes and any alternative back pain treatment options. The physical examination allows your doctor to identify the specific spinal region causing problems.
If your care provider determines that your facet joints are causing chronic pain, they’ll need some X-rays to provide additional insight as to the location of inflammation. Additional imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will confirm the injection site and spinal section that requires relief.
Your care provider might recommend that you pause certain medications before your facet joint injections. Additionally, smokers may need to quit before these procedures. Smoking can weaken your blood vessels and make facet joint injections potentially more dangerous.
Review this step-by-step guide to facet joint injection procedures:
Knowing what to expect after your procedure ensures an effective recovery. Read below to learn about best care practices and appropriate expectations after the injections.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notes that facet joint injections can provide up to 80% pain relief. You might notice this relief immediately or in the days following your injections. It’s not uncommon for some pain to return within the first 24 to 48 hours before medications take full effect.
You should be able to move normally again in the day or two following your procedure. As a non-invasive treatment, facet joint injections provide significant relief without the long-winded recovery of surgical procedures.
While you’ll regain mobility soon, the wound might need more time to heal to avoid infection. Health Technology Assessment details that 73% of patients experience local bleeding after their injections, with only 0.4% sustaining profuse bleeding. As such, avoid getting the injection site wet within the first few days.
You can probably return to all your daily activities within the first week of recovery.
While facet joint injections provide some immediate pain relief, you may need further procedures or rehabilitative therapies to obtain long-term relief.
In a study conducted by Al-Najjim et al., the researchers found that most facet joint injections provide significant pain relief for anywhere from three to six months. As a result, most patients can expect to receive another round to sustain long-term relief. Doctors recommend no more than three injections in a year.
Certain non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce any residual pain from your spine. Taking these medications as your facet joint injections start to wear off could sustain you between procedures.
Physical therapy and chiropractic care might be necessary to further improve mobility, decrease pain, and accelerate natural healing. Musculoskeletal realignments, stretches, and strengthening exercises help sustain long-term relief.
Changing your diet, exercise, and smoking habits might be necessary to avoid further issues with your spine. Your doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes before your first procedure.
Ignoring spine pain can lead to nasty consequences, including chronic pain and reduced mobility. Fortunately, New York Spine Specialist offers excellent medical solutions for every form of spine pain.
Whether you need facet joint injections or a spine disc replacement, our professionals can help. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Reclaim a pain-free life by calling (516) 355-0111 and scheduling an appointment with doctors from New York Spine Specialist.
Below are some frequently asked questions about facet joint injections in New York.
Facet joint injections are anesthetic and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce inflammation, increase mobility, and decrease pain from facet joints. Doctors insert these medications directly into the joint. These drugs exist in a family of injections, including trigger point injections and BOTOX.
Depending on your level of back pain and other issues, your insurance may cover some of the costs of your facet joint injections. Check your policy with your provider to confirm whether or not you’ll receive some coverage.
In most cases, patients will need multiple rounds of injections to obtain long-term pain relief. Monitor your pain levels closely after each round of injections to determine when you might need another round. As facet joint pain starts to return, you can visit your doctor to mitigate the flare up with injections.
Yes, facet joint injections can offer long-term relief. Expect anywhere from three to six months of significant pain relief after facet joint injections.
Your doctor can provide facet joint injections as an outpatient procedure. The treatment usually requires the use of fluoroscopy, and thus can be done in a doctor’s office, an outpatient center, or a hospital. You should have another person drive you to and from the facility on the day of your facet injection. You will wear an examination gown for your facet injection procedure. You will lie face down on the exam table. The injection site will be sterilized and numbed. You may be sedated or awake for the procedure. Your doctor will use a C-arm fluoroscope, an imaging device, to guide the placement of the injection. Your doctor will inject the medication into your facet joint capsule. You will be able to walk immediately following the procedure, but you should take it easy for the next few days.
