Facet Joint Injections

OVERVIEW

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 Joint Injections

WE CAN HELP!

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.