What is a
Facet Block Injection?
What Is a Facet Block Injection?
Facet block injections are used to help patients tolerate rehabilitation and strengthen their back after an injury. A facet joint is a small joint segment in the spine. These joints provide stability and help guide motion. Patients who suffer from a back injury, arthritis, or any sort of mechanical stress may experience pain the facet joints. Diagnostically, facet block injections can be used to determine the source of the pain. If the patient experiences pain relief after an injection, the facet joint is likely the source of the pain.
In terms of pain relief, the goal of facet block injections is to reduce inflammation in and around the joint to provide long term pain relief.
A local anesthetic is used to numb the area before a facet block injection is given. A steroid medication may also be used to provide pain relief to the facet joints. Facet block injections can be administered to any region of the spine: cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-spine) and lumbar (lower back).
Used To Treat These Conditions
A herniated disc is most often an age-related condition, resulting from the normal wear and tear of the body.
A spinal disc that is damaged through the normal process of aging, causing back pain and other problems.
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces in the spine, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Neck or back sprain or strain (whiplash)
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facet Block Injection?
You may be a good candidate for a facet block injection if you have tried more conservative pain relief methods and are still experiencing pain. Consider it an option before resorting to surgery.
How Will I Feel After Facet Block Injections?
You may experience immediate temporary relief after the procedure that could last up to several hours. Once the numbing agent wears off, your pain may return. This does not mean that the steroid did not help. The steroid medication typically takes up to 10 days to begin having an effect in most people.
