Facets are small pairs of small joints lined with cartilage; these joints allow bending and twisting the spine but keep the back from slipping too far forward without limits. As you age, degenerative changes to the spine can cause facet joint syndrome Shrewsbury – is an arthritis-like condition that is a significant cause of neck and back pain. The cartilage inside the facet joint wears out, triggering pain signals in surrounding nerve endings. Your healthcare provider may help you manage symptoms with medications, physical therapy, joint injections, or nerve blocks. If your symptoms persist, you may discuss surgery to fuse the joint with your specialist.
Symptoms of facet joint syndrome
Most people with facet joint degeneration experience no pain until an event triggers the symptoms. Several symptoms could indicate that your pain is coming from the facet joints. The pain from facet joint syndrome is usually a dull ache in the lower back directly over the spine; it can spread to the buttock or legs. If the degeneration occurs in the cervical facet joints, you may feel the pain in the shoulders and back of the skull.
If you have facet joint syndrome, you may feel the pain when you twist sideways or bend back towards the affected joint. The pain may worsen after extended periods of inactivity, such as sitting or lying down. Any activity that takes the weight off the affected joint can help ease the pain, including changing positions, leaning forward, and sitting. If bone spurs form on the joints and press on spinal nerves, you may feel the pain down your arms or legs. These symptoms may come in periodic flare-ups, or they may be chronic.
What causes facet joint syndrome?
Facet joint syndrome results from degenerative changes that occur in the joints due to different factors, including old age, poor posture, injuries, obesity, and repetitive movement. For example, as you advance in age, the cartilage in the facet joints wears down, allowing bones to rub on each other and cause pain. The body responds by forming abnormal bones (bone spurs); these tiny bones can press on nerve roots, causing other symptoms like tingling and numbness in your arm and legs—usually, changes in the facet joint start with the deterioration of the discs between vertebrae.
For example, these discs may dry out, meaning they offer less cushioning, so the body weight shifts to the facet joint. Consequently, the cartilage breaks down, friction between bones occurs, and the joint space narrows. Degenerative changes in the facets can occur in men and women, but it is common in people between 40 and 70. Individuals with arthritis and those with spine injury are also at risk of facet joint syndrome.
Treatment for facet joint syndrome
The damage to the joints is irreversible, but several treatments can help you manage the pain. For example, simple self-care such as keeping your spine aligned and using the correct posture can help prevent painful episodes. If you are overweight, losing extra pounds can help ease the load on the facet joints and pain. Other treatment options for facet joint degeneration include medications, physical therapy, joint steroid injections, and radiofrequency nerve ablation.
Consult your provider at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine if you have further questions about facet joint syndrome.
