Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injections are minimally invasive, image-guided procedures used to diagnose and treat pain originating from the facet joints of the spine. These joints connect the vertebrae and guide spinal movement. When inflamed, arthritic, or injured, facet joints can cause significant back pain or neck pain.

Facet joint injections deliver a combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into the affected joint to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

What Is a Facet Joint Injection?

A facet joint injection is an outpatient spinal procedure that typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. It is performed using fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance to ensure accurate needle placement into the targeted facet joint.

The injection serves two purposes:

  1. Diagnostic – to confirm the facet joint as the source of pain
  2. Therapeutic – to reduce inflammation and provide sustained pain relief

Facet joints are located throughout the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Damage or degeneration in these joints can result in localized or referred spinal pain.

Conditions Treated

Facet joint injections are among the most frequently performed spinal interventional procedures. They may be indicated for:

  1. Facet syndrome
  2. Chronic low back pain
  3. Chronic neck pain
  4. Post-laminectomy syndrome
  5. Persistent pain after spinal fusion
  6. Low back pain with normal imaging findings
  7. Suspected radicular pain related to facet pathology

A strong clinical suspicion of facet joint dysfunction and tenderness over the affected joints often support the diagnosis.

Symptoms of Facet Joint Pain

Facet-mediated pain may present as:

  1. Localized back or neck pain
  2. Pain that worsens with extension or rotation
  3. Stiffness after prolonged sitting or standing
  4. Tenderness over the facet joints
  5. Pain that does not correlate with disc herniation on imaging

Facet joint pain is typically mechanical and aggravated by movement.

Table of Contents

Urban Spine and Joint

How the Procedure Is Performed

Facet joint injections are commonly performed without sedation, although an IV line may be placed if necessary.

The procedure includes:

  1. The patient lies on a procedure table.
  2. The skin over the targeted area is sterilized.
  3. A local anesthetic is applied to numb the skin and surrounding tissues.
  4. Using fluoroscopic guidance, a small needle is advanced into the facet joint.
  5. Contrast dye is injected to confirm proper needle placement.
  6. A mixture of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication (steroid or cortisone) is injected into the joint.

Patients are monitored briefly after the procedure and typically return home the same day.

Benefits of Facet Joint Injections

  • Rapid pain relief
  • Reduced inflammation within the facet joint
  • Improved mobility and function
  • Minimally invasive outpatient treatment
  • Diagnostic clarification of spinal pain source

Begin your journey to recovery.

Reach out to our specialists to schedule an initial consultation. We’ll carefully review your symptoms and match you with the right expert for your specific condition.

CLINIC LOCATION

100 Town Square Place, Suite 405
Jersey City, NJ 07310

DIRECT CONTACT

(908) 665-1938
infor@urbanspinejoint.com

HIPAA