When you’ve been diagnosed with spinal arthritis, which causes severe pain in the facet joints, your doctor may recommend facet joint injections, which are a minimally invasive procedure where a medicine is injected into the facet joint to provide relief. But is it effective? What to expect from the procedure? What risks are involved? How long does it take to recover? Get all the answers in these FAQs about facet joint injections. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org. to schedule an appointment with us.
Facet Joint Injections: Everything you need to know
These FAQs will help you understand how facet joint injections are used to treat spinal arthritis pain, including their benefits and risks.
- Facet Joint Injections: An Introduction
Ans. A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure where the doctor injects a small amount of local anesthetic or medication into or around the joints on either side of the vertebrae in the spine to numb the facet joint or provide pain relief. To deliver the injection, the doctor uses fluoroscopy, which is a form of real-time X-ray or CT scan, to guide the needle placement into the facet joint. Facet joints are located in pairs on the sides of each vertebra in the neck and back, which allow mobility, support, and stability to the spine. Injuries or conditions like arthritis may cause pain and inflammation within the facet joints. Injecting medicine like this ensures it naturally goes into and surrounds the joints, which provides relief from pain and inflammation.
- Who is a good candidate for facet joint injections?
Ans. You might be a suitable candidate if you have arthritis of the spine, a degenerated disc that causes facet joint issues, or inflammatory arthritis that affects your spine. It is useful in people who experience axial back pain (low back pain) or in those with neck pain that is not radiating down the arm (cervical radiculopathy), if the facet joints are found to be a cause of neck pain.
- What are the indications of facet joint injections?
Ans. Facet joint injections are usually performed to treat conditions such as:
- Neck, upper back, or lower back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint instability
- Traumatic injury
- Impingement of joint tissue
- Inflammation of the joint lining
- To lower inflammation and provide long-term pain relief
- Allow patients to tolerate physical therapy or other rehabilitative exercises
Facet joint injections are also used to diagnose facet joint pain. A positive response to the injections indicates that the facet joint was the cause of pain.
- How to prepare for facet joint injections?
Ans. To prepare for facet joint injections, your healthcare team will perform a physical exam and imaging tests to pinpoint the exact location where the injection needs to be delivered. Your doctor may recommend taking blood-thinning medications for a few days before the injection. While you don’t need to do anything to prepare before the procedure, just make sure you have someone to take you home afterwards. If the patient is going to be sedated, they should follow the healthcare facility’s guidelines for procedures that involve general anesthesia, which include not eating anything for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure and stopping the intake of clear liquids up to 4 hours before.
- What to expect during the facet joint injection?
Ans. This procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes, and the patient goes home on the same day. During the procedure, you can expect the following:
- You need to change into a hospital gown, and the doctor will inject sedatives through an IV in your hand or arm.
- You need to lie face down on a table and maybe connected to machines to monitor your vitals.
- The injection site will be sterilized and covered with a drape to prevent infection.
- The doctor uses either fluoroscopy or a CT scan as a guide to insert the facet joint injection through your skin and into the joint. Sometimes, they may inject a contrast dye first to ensure that the needle is in your joint.
- They will then inject either a local anesthetic or a pain reliever into your joint.
- After removing the injection, the doctor applies pressure to stop bleeding and then applies a bandage.
- What to expect after the procedure?
Ans. After the procedure, you may feel sore at the injection site for a few days. To lower the swelling, you may need to apply ice or a cold pack on the injection site and take prescribed medications to relieve pain (which occurs when the numbing medicine wears off). Most people start feeling better in a few days. However, the doctor recommends that you avoid strenuous physical activity for at least 48 hours. You are allowed to do some light activity in the first 24 hours. Rarely, you may experience side effects from anti-inflammatory medication, including:
- A feeling of warmth for several days
- Fluid retention, weight gain, or appetite gain
- High blood pressure
- Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, insomnia
Inform your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
- How long do facet joint injections last?
Ans. Facet joint injection can be effective for 3 months or longer. A 2018 review of studies found different evidence of pain relief lasting between 3 to 6 months after this procedure. Facet joint injections can be repeated up to 3 times per year.
Facet joint injections are a good option for spinal arthritis pain relief. A great advantage of this technique is that it can directly inject the medicine into the affected joint and offer quick relief. However, you should know its benefits and risks before considering this treatment. So, make sure you discuss with your doctor to determine whether this treatment is a good option for your condition.
Need help with spinal arthritis pain? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
