Facet Joint Syndrome May Be Causing Your Back Pain

What is Facet Joint Syndrome?

If you’re experiencing dull aches and pains in your back or neck, you may be suffering from facet joint syndrome. Facet joints are the smaller exterior connections between the vertebrae and like all joints, can be damaged or strained. Over time, bad posture and age-related wear and tear can lead to the deterioration of the discs in your spine. As the discs begin to breakdown, the load becomes uneven, leading to inflammation and the shifting of weight onto the facet joints. The sudden added weight combined with thinning of joint capsules and cartilage results in the bone on bone contact. It’s possible to live with facet joint syndrome and not know it. Sometimes an injury can be the catalyst that triggers pain in the damaged joints, after which you will begin to feel a dull persistent ache in the lower back or neck area.

Movements such as twisting or overarching your back will cause greater levels of pain and the potential to do more damage. Standing for prolonged periods may also worsen pain as your bodyweight adds pressure to the facet joints in your spine. Experiencing different symptoms? Read more articles on back pain here.

Facet Joint Syndrome tends to cause as much as 15-45% of lower back pain in both men and women. If you have other forms of arthritis or suffered some form of spinal injury in the past, you may be at an increased risk of back problems and the onset of Facet Joint Syndrome.

What Can You Do to Ease Your Pain?

The most commonly recommended solution for Facet Joint Syndrome is a treatment called Spinal Decompression Therapy. There are two forms that medical professionals offer, Surgical and Non-Surgical. We recommended pursuing non-surgical options first as they may be all that is necessary to relieve your pain.

Surgical Spinal Decompression

There is a wide range of surgery options available depending on your diagnosis and symptoms to provide relief while being as least invasive as possible. Most surgeries involve removing pieces of the vertebrae in order to relieve pressure and remove bone that may be making contact. As mentioned above, surgery should only be considered after attempting non-surgical methods or in emergencies.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

Your spine is made up of several bones called vertebrae that offer stability. However, in order to provide your back with a range of movement, the bones have discs in between to allow the flexibility that lets you bend and move your back around. These discs are normally sealed within an exterior casing but can wear down and cause the casing to weaken. Hence, making a rupture in the casing more likely. A disc may slip out, which can then irritate the nerves in your spinal cord. Depending on the location of the slipped disc, this may affect your thighs or your shoulders.

With properly utilized Spinal Decompression Therapy, a person with a herniated disc, disc degeneration, facet joint syndrome, sciatica from a damaged disc, or even spinal stenosis can benefit. The treatment actually focuses on healing and stabilizing the disc. Spinal decompression gently pulls the vertebral joints apart. This stimulates a reduction of herniated material away from the affected nerve. Therefore, rehydrating the disc and relieving pain in the area.

Find Relief for Facet Joint Syndrome at West Texas Neck and Back

Facet Joint Syndrome is something that can be managed and improved, but you must seek out professional treatment. If you want to slow or fix the damage to your spine, speak to one of our trusted medical professionals today to determine if spinal decompression therapy is right for you. Get relief for your back pain today, call West Texas Neck and Back in Lubbock, TX at (806) 513-3682.