Facet Joint Pain - Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Facet joints, located between the vertebrae along your spine, are synovial joints. Each vertebra has two sets of facet joints: one set linking to the vertebra above, and another connecting to the one below. These joints play a crucial role in stabilising the spinal column while facilitating various movements like forward bending, backward bending, and twisting. Their health is maintained by the presence of cartilage and synovial fluid, which prevent vertebrae from grinding against each other and guard against wear and tear.
Causes of Facet Joint Pain
As we age, the cartilage within our facet joints naturally wears down. Additionally, injuries, repetitive movements, obesity, or poor posture can make things worse by putting extra strain on these joints. This extra pressure messes up how weight is spread across the facet joints, leading to cartilage damage. As a result, the joint doesn't move as smoothly, causing inflammation and discomfort. Over time, the cartilage and synovial fluid that usually keep the facet joints working smoothly can wear away completely, leaving bone rubbing against bone and maybe even bone spurs forming, which really amps up the pain.
Also, facet joints can get stuck, which adds to the pain. This can happen from various movements, like twists or falls. Usually, it's when the facet joints move more than your muscles can handle, especially if you've had an injury before or your muscles aren't as strong as they should be.
Symptoms
Because facet joints are present in all three sections of your spine—the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (low back)—you can encounter facet joint pain in any of these regions.
If you have facet joint syndrome in your cervical spine, you might need to turn your entire body to look left or right. Pain may manifest at the base of your skull, neck, shoulders, and upper back, depending on which nerves are affected. In the lumbar spine, you might struggle to straighten your spine and experience pain when rising from a chair. This pain can radiate to the lower back, hips, or buttocks, again contingent upon the affected nerves. Although facet joint syndrome is less frequent in the thoracic spine, it can still cause pain and limited motion due to the thoracic spine's stiffness. Additionally, symptoms of facet joint syndrome can resemble those of a herniated disc, potentially causing pain to extend down the arms or legs if bone spurs develop and compress specific spinal nerves.
In the case of a locked facet joint, besides experiencing pain in the aforementioned areas, you may also suffer from muscle spasms in the affected region and find it challenging to move away from where the joint is locked.
Treatment for Facet Joint Pain
At Ballsbridge Physio, our focus on conservative treatments for facet joint syndrome revolves around alleviating pain and inflammation, enhancing mobility and strength, and facilitating daily activities with greater ease. Our certified physiotherapists employ a thorough physical examination and targeted questioning to pinpoint the source of your facet joint discomfort.
Our goal is to restore normal motion to your restricted and painful facet joints through methods such as postural correction, soft tissue massage, and a tailored exercise regimen aimed at improving joint mobility, flexibility, and strength. In cases of a locked facet joint, physiotherapy typically provides significant pain relief, often leading to immediate improvement post-unlocking. Additionally, alongside physical therapy interventions, your healthcare provider may suggest anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants. Should conservative treatments prove ineffective, your doctor may recommend fluoroscopic injections into the facet joint.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and suspect it may be a facet joint causing the pain, do not hesitate to get in contact with us here at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, to address your concerns.
Physiotherapy
We specialise in the treatment and prevention of injuries and conditions. If you are suffering with any health aliments that you feel we could help you with, get in touch today. We provide treatment for a wide age range from 9 years to 90 years old.