Facet Injection

A facet joint injection is a common, minimally-invasive procedure that is used to diagnose and treat symptoms associated with facet syndrome, or irritated facet joint in the back or neck. This diagnostic test is extremely helpful when it comes to accurately diagnosing a wide range of conditions that impact the facet joint. Facet joint osteoarthritis is a condition of the spine that is characterized by inflammation and swelling of the facet joints that are located within the spine. These joints are important because they support and create movement within the spine.

When you come into Crescent Pain Relief for a facet joint injection, Dr. Shaikh will inject a local anesthetic solution into the inflamed area in order to temporarily rarily eliminate any pain and numb the nerves in the surrounding area. This is important because it can prevent any nearby pinched nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

In most cases, a facet injection is used to locate the specific facet joint that is resulting in pain and any other associated symptoms. Facet injections are extremely effective because it allows for better understanding of the pain and symptoms once the local anesthetic has been administered. By pinpointing the source of pain, we can then offer suggestions for treatment that will effectively relieve the symptoms associated with injury, degeneration, and arthritis of the joints.

How effective a facet injection is will depend on a host of factors, including a patient’s medical history and any other medical conditions that may be associated with the pain. In order to better understand what you can expect, should Dr. Shaikh say you are a good candidate for a facet injection, we’ve outlined the various steps of the procedure for you:

• The patient is asked to lie on the procedure table as we test and cleanse the skin
• The physician will test the area with a small amount of local anesthetic
• A fluoroscopy will be used to ensure the needle is inserted into the facet joint
• A small amount of contrast dye is injected to ensure the medication makes its way inside the joint
• A mixture of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication is slowly injected into the damaged joint

This is a relatively simple procedure that should result in no pain or discomfort for the patient – only immediate relief. Once we are able to get a better idea of the source of your pain and discomfort, we will be able to determine what therapies or treatments may be beneficial to you. Some of the most common treatment paths include physical therapy, ice packs, and pain medication immediately following the procedure.

We understand how debilitating back and neck pain can be, which is why we believe in offering a wide range of tests and services to help you. Our compassionate team of doctors and staff members strive to provide you with the information you need in order to take on any diagnosis with a positive attitude. If you have questions about facet injections or would like to learn more about when this diagnostic test is used, please do not hesitate to contact us.