Lumbar Facet Join Pain

Lumbar Facet Joints (LFJ) are a common source of mid and low back pain and painful muscular spasm. The facet joints are responsible for allowing movement of the spine; such as flexion, extension and rotation.

Conditions such as Advancing Arthritis, Trauma, Scoliosis, Kyphosis, and Spondylolisthesis can predispose the patient to development of painful Facet Joint Arthropathy (disease).

Typical FJ pain is located lateral to the midline of the spine upon pressure with severe muscular spasm in the general area. The pain can radiate to the referral zone of the facet level involved (ex. L4-5 FJ can have pain and spasm in the low back, upper buttock, thigh to knee and tingling without numbness). An associated Myofascial Pain Syndrome (painful muscular spasm) can develop which is very painfully debilitating and can lead to depression.

If Conservative therapy has failed to relieve your pain (including Medication, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic care, and/or Trigger Point injections) it is reasonable to perform Diagnostic Facet Joint Injections. Relief of pain by precise X-ray targeting of the joint or the joint nerve can confirm the diagnosis. Hopefully, by breaking the cycle of pain and reducing the joint inflammation, relief can be permanent.

Your Pain Doctor may design a Therapeutic Program to deal with residual or recurrent pain. This may include Physical Therapy, booster injections and other more permanent techniques.

The injections are minimally uncomfortable because we provide plenty of local anesthetic and use “twilight sedation”. Complications are very rare but can occur; you may wish to discuss this with your doctor in more detail.

Your Doctor and his Staff will always do their best for you!