Facet Joint Block
Facet Joint Injection Procedure : Types and Side Effects : Facet joints are pairs of small joints in between the vertebrae of the spine that connect the bones of the spine to each other. The joints are present on both sides of the spine and they connect the spine from the neck down to the lower back and buttock. The facet joint glides and slides, and allows the spine to bend and twist.
The facet joint is surrounded by a capsule filled with a small amount of synovial fluid. The synovial fluid acts as lubricant to reduce friction between the bones of the spine. Arthritis or degenerative changes to the facet joint can cause the cartilage inside the facet joint to break down and become inflamed which can trigger pain signals in nearby nerves.
Facet joint block is an injection that contains local anesthetic and corticosteroid used to numb the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain, thereby providing pain relief.
The purpose of the facet joint block is to help diagnose the cause and location of the pain, and to provide pain relief.
Facet Joint Injection Procedure
First, you will be given an IV line to help you relax and feel comfortable. You will be asked to lie down on your belly on a procedure table. Your doctor will clean the injection site and apply a local anesthetic to help numb the injection site so that you don’t feel pain when the needle is inserted.
With the aid of fluoroscopy guidance, your doctor will insert a hollow needle and direct it into your facet joint. Your doctor will view the direction of the needle on a screen.
Your doctor will direct the needle to ensure that it gets to the target joint. A little amount of contrast dye will then be injected into the area. The contrast dye helps your doctor see the area more clearly to ensure that the needle is in the right position.
When your doctor has confirmed that the needle is in the right position, the medication containing anesthetic and corticosteroid will be injected into the joint. The needle will be withdrawn and the injection site bandaged.
The anesthetic provides immediate but temporary pain relief while the corticosteroid reduces inflammation and provides longer-lasting pain relief.
Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Facet Joint Injections
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Cervical Facet Joint Injection
Cervical facet joints are the facet joints at the neck region. Cervical facet joint injection is the facet joint injection in the neck region. People with pain in their neck region may undergo cervical facet joint injection.
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Thoracic Facet Joint Injection
Thoracic facet joints are the facet joints at the mid-back or upper back. Thoracic facet joint injection is the facet joint injection in the mid-back or upper back. People with mid-back or upper back pain may undergo thoracic facet joint injection.
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Lumbar Facet Joint Injection
Lumbar facet joints are the facet joints at the lower back. Lumbar facet joint injection is the facet joint injection in the lower back. People with lower back pain may undergo lumbar facet joint injection.
Facet Joint Injections Vs. Epidural Injections
Facet joint injections are given to patients with chronic back pain to provide long-lasting pain relief. The procedure involves injecting a medication that contains anesthetic and corticosteroid into the facet joints. While the anesthetic provides immediate but temporary pain relief, the corticosteroid provides long-lasting pain relief.
Epidural injections may be considered for patients with chronic lower back pain. It involves injecting a medication containing local anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. The corticosteroid help to reduce inflammation in and around the nerve roots to provide long-lasting pain relief.
