/assets/images/provider/photos/2858479.jpeg)
5 Nonsurgical Approaches to Managing Facet Joint Syndrome
Your facet joints, located in the back of your spine, provide strong stability and flexibility. When you have facet joint syndrome (FJS), arthritis, or wear-and-tear damage these joints, leading to bothersome symptoms.
Thankfully, a range of minimally invasive treatments can minimize these symptoms without surgery.
Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill, Florida, treat common back pain causes, including facet joint syndrome, to help you lead a fuller, more comfortable life.
Facet joint syndrome symptoms
Facet joint syndrome affects people differently, but the most common symptoms include:
- Back stiffness
- Discomfort when you bend backward or twist
- Muscle spasms
- Pain that radiates from your back to your buttocks, hips, shoulders, or legs
Your symptoms may intensify after sleeping, sitting for lengthy periods, or when you arch or twist your back. Weak core muscles and excess body weight may worsen matters, too.
Nonsurgical FJS treatments
Facet joint syndrome treatment starts with conservative care. Often effective nonsurgical treatments include:
1. Spinal injections
Spinal injections provide quick FJS relief from a local anesthetic and gradually more from a corticosteroid, which alleviates inflammation. You should experience benefits within 2-7 days, with results lasting up to several months or longer.
2. Oral medication
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ease facet joint pain by reducing inflammation. Common examples include ibuprofen and naproxen. A prescribed muscle relaxant, such as cyclobenzaprine, can reduce pain associated with muscle spasms.
3. Physical therapy
Physical therapy (PT) for facet joint syndrome aims to restore flexibility and improve your core stability. Special exercises and stretches, performed in your sessions and at home, lead to less spinal inflammation and better mobility.
4. Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) helps FJS by heating and destroying the nerve behind your pain. Useful for chronic pain, successful RFA results typically last for 6-12 months or up to several years.
5. Nerve blocks
A nerve block, also called a facet block or medial branch block, injects an anesthetic and steroid near the nerves that fuel your symptoms. This blocks pain signals, bringing FJS relief. Benefits may last for weeks or months.
Lifestyle support for facet joint syndrome
Appropriate lifestyle changes can also help you better manage facet joint syndrome. Our team may recommend starting with lifestyle changes or pairing the shifts with treatment that eases your pain faster. Lifestyle changes can also reduce your odds of additional FJS flare-ups.
Helpful habits include improving your posture, engaging in low-impact and core-strengthening exercise, using a firm, comfortable mattress, and using ergonomic supports, such as a lumbar back roll.
To learn more about nonsurgical facet joint syndrome treatment or get started with expert care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.