Facet disease treatment can take a variety of forms, from hot/cold compresses and over-the-counter medication to physical therapy and low-impact exercise. If these treatments are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe more targeted forms of pain management, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, or facet joint injections. The aim of such a wide range of approaches is to relieve the patient’s pain and avoid surgery, as surgery generally should be thought of as a last resort only for severe cases of facet disease.

Types of Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injections, or facet joint blocks, can serve either a diagnostic or a therapeutic purpose, or both. When used for diagnosis, a small amount of anesthetic is injected into the joint capsule that is thought to be the primary cause of the patient’s pain. If after about an hour the patient feels none of their usual discomfort, then the doctor has correctly isolated the exact joint that may require a longer-lasting steroid injection. The aim of a time-release steroid (or cortisone) injection is to reduce inflammation and thereby, reduce pain; epidural steroid injections have been known to relieve pain for several months in some cases.

The standard process of receiving a therapeutic facet joint injection as a form of facet disease treatment is as follows:

– Depending on the location of the joint requiring the injection, the patient will either lay face down or on their side. The injection site will be thoroughly cleaned.

– While this is a non-operative procedure that does not require general anesthesia, the patient’s breathing and heart rate will be monitored throughout the injection process. Intravenous sedation may be available for patients in certain cases.

– With the help of a fluoroscope to ensure that the needle is being directed into the proper joint capsule, a solution of anesthetic (lidocaine or bupivacaine) and cortisone, which is a slow-release, long-lasting steroid, will be injected into the joint capsule or the tissue surrounding the joint.

– The patient will remain still for anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour so that his or her vitals can be monitored. Once the patient is allowed to walk, some weakness or tingling may be present.

– Localized pain at the site of the injection is normal, and this may last anywhere from a few days to a week. It usually takes about a week for the full inflammation- and pain-relieving effect of the cortisone injection to kick in. The amount of time that the cortisone will last, or continue to relieve joint pain, will vary from patient to patient, but the pain relief can last for 6 months or more. For safety reasons, there is a limit to how many of these injections a patient can receive over time, but generally patients will be allowed to get up to three injections per year.

Who Is a Candidate for Facet Joint Injections?

Most anyone suffering from arthritis, facet disease, or inflamed joints is a candidate for a facet joint injection, though your doctor will need to evaluate your current state of health before recommending this as a facet disease treatment option. In rare cases, the injection can cause complications for patients with heart problems or diabetes. Patients taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) should discuss taking proper precautions prior to the injection, and diabetic patients will need to monitor their blood sugar closely in the days after the injection, as the cortisone may cause a rise in blood sugar levels.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of facet disease and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for facet disease and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/facet_disease/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of facet disease and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: facet disease