Facet disease treatment is a means to manage symptoms caused by the deterioration of cartilage that lines the facet joints within the spine. As a form of osteoarthritis, facet disease is not curable. That doesn’t mean you must resign yourself to living with the back or neck pain and other symptoms that often accompany spinal arthritis, however. In fact, if facet disease becomes symptomatic, you normally can manage the symptoms through a course of conservative, nonsurgical treatment methods. In order to formulate your treatment plan, your physician or spine specialist will first need to diagnose the extent of the problem.

Pinpointing the Problem

Because many degenerative spine conditions produce similar symptoms, a proper diagnosis is imperative before a facet disease treatment plan is determined. Initially, if facet disease is suspected, your doctor will ask questions about your family history, as arthritis is believed to have a genetic component. You may also be asked to describe any recent activity that may have caused sudden back or neck pain or other symptoms. You almost certainly will be asked to describe the nature, severity, and location of your symptoms. In addition, your doctor may use the following diagnostic methods:

– Physical exam – this may include palpation of the symptomatic areas, as well as tests for range of motion.

– Neurological exam – this may include tests of reflexes and muscle strength.

– X-ray – this is performed primarily to rule out vertebral fractures.

– MRI – magnetic resonance imaging gives the doctor a more detailed view of the interior of the body.

– CT scan – computer tomography also is a way to give doctors a clearer view of the body’s interior.

– Selective nerve root block (SNRB) and diagnostic dye injections – these are used to find the exact location of nerve irritation and compression in the spine (for example, to find evidence of a bone spur that is pinching a spinal nerve, as bone spur formation is a common side-effect of spinal osteoarthritis).

Determining Factors for Facet Disease Treatment

Your overall health, the location of osteoarthritis within the spine, and the severity of the joint deterioration all are factors in determining the form your facet disease treatment will take. Pain medication, application of heat and/or ice, exercise, stretching, behavioral modification, and corticosteroid injections all may be attempted as you seek to find the right combination of treatments. Give it time – finding the correct regimen often is a matter of trial and error. Surgery usually becomes an option only if all conservative treatment methods have proven ineffective.

As you consider whether surgery is a viable option, conduct thorough research. Ask friends or family members who have undergone back or neck surgery what the experience was like. Interview several surgeons to find someone with impeccable credentials and an approachable, open personality. While your primary care physician or spine specialist will certainly be a valuable resource, don’t be afraid to seek a second, or even a third, opinion about your diagnosis. It may be that another doctor has an idea about how to treat your symptoms that you haven’t yet tried.

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