Facet Syndrome - How to Diagnose and Treat It?

Facet syndrome is the pain emanating from the spinal joints' tissues – capsule, ligaments, muscle attachment sites, subchondral plates, and other joint structures.

Degenerative processes in the segment of the spine, displacements or injuries of the joints of the spine are accompanied by irritation of the nerve endings and a feeling of pain. Excitation is transmitted along the nerve trunks that innervate the joint. Up to 30 nerve trunks (joints in the spine) fit into each joint. With facet syndrome, where there is an inflammatory component, pain in the spine's joints is dull. Other signs and symptoms of facet joint inflammation include:

• Regular shooting in the lumbar region, shoulder blades, pelvis, and buttocks


• Tightness around the joint


• Sudden attacks of back pain


• Soreness when probing the affected area


• Muscle weakness leading to muscle spasms


• Cramps and pain when trying to take a natural position


• Stiffness and pain when trying to lean back

Each vertebral motor segment has an articular complex of two paired facet joints. Like the intervertebral disc, the joints are a load-bearing structure of the spinal segment. But the joints are loaded less than the intervertebral disc. The load on the disc of the vertebral segment is up to 60-70%. The load that falls on the spine's joints is 15-40%. But even with such a relatively small load, the joints are easily injured, for example, with a sharp back extension, a rotational movement of the body in combination with lifting weights, and other types of movements. Abrupt head movements can damage the neck and cause cervical facet syndrome nj.

Facet syndrome is quite a common condition. Sometimes, without understanding, it is confused with disc herniation, especially if protrusion or disc herniation is detected at the pain level during an MRI examination. Therefore, the doctor must always analyze and take into account a set of clinical data and compare them with the results of hardware studies.

How to Diagnose Facet Syndrome?

The diagnosis is established by questioning, examining the patient, conducting motor tests, X-rays of the spine, and MRI of the corresponding part of the spine. In some cases, laboratory tests are useful.

Facet Syndrome Treatment

Treatment strategy depends on the cause that generates joint pain. If facet syndrome is caused by displacement in the joints, manual therapy can be used. If there is arthropathy of the joints, the underlying disease should be addressed. If the cause is arthritis, it is necessary to find the factor that caused it. If it's arthrosis, physical therapy or local injection therapy can be effective. If it is reflex muscular-tonic syndrome medications, blockades, mobilization, or manual therapy are preferred.

The use of radiofrequency joint denervation has limited indications, since by destroying the nerve formations around the joint, the joint loses its natural regulation. For example, vegetative denervation of the joint can cause the so-called Sudeck disease. It’s a disorder in the joint's nutrition process with the rapid development of a degenerative process in the joint itself and its cartilage. After radiofrequency denervation, muscle (motor) support of the joint may be lost, which will also lead to the rapid development of arthrosis and, possibly, to increased pain in the future. Therefore, the treatment of facet syndrome should be balanced, verified, and carried out, taking into account the specific pathology that causes pain in the joint (or joints) of the vertebral motor segment.

How to Prevent Facet Syndrome?

80% of people sooner or later face facet syndrome because degenerative changes inevitably occur in the body over time. Diseases and their prerequisites can be delayed for years by an active lifestyle. Walking, swimming, and daily physical exercises keep the back muscles in good shape, and provide good blood circulation inside the joints and the correct biomechanics of the spinal column.