Facet Joint Interventions

Targeted Relief: Understanding Facet Joint Interventions for Back and Neck Pain

Chronic neck and back pain can make everyday tasks—like turning your head, sitting for long periods, or walking upstairs—feel like major obstacles. If you’re experiencing localized spine pain that hasn’t responded to rest or medication, your facet joints might be the source. At Pain Management Solutions, we offer Facet Joint Interventions as a highly effective way to diagnose and treat this often-overlooked cause of spinal discomfort.

What Are Facet Joints?

Facet joints are small, paired joints located at the back of your spine that connect one vertebra to another. These joints help stabilize the spine while allowing for smooth motion. Over time, they can become inflamed or arthritic due to wear and tear, injury, or degenerative conditions—leading to persistent neck or lower back pain, especially with movement.

What Are Facet Joint Interventions?

Facet joint interventions refer to a group of minimally invasive procedures aimed at identifying and relieving pain coming from these joints. They include:

• Medial Branch Blocks
  A diagnostic injection that delivers a local anesthetic near the nerves that supply the facet joints (called the medial branch nerves). If your pain significantly improves after the injection, it confirms the facet joint as the source of pain.
• Facet Joint Injections
  A combination of anesthetic and steroid is injected directly into the facet joint to reduce inflammation and provide longer-term relief.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
  If medial branch blocks provide temporary relief, RFA can be performed to disable the targeted nerve endings using heat, offering longer-lasting pain relief—often 6 months or more.

Conditions Treated with Facet Joint Interventions

Facet joint interventions are most commonly used to treat:

• Facet joint arthritis
• Degenerative spinal changes
• Whiplash injuries
• Mechanical low back or neck pain

Pain from the facet joints often feels like a dull ache or stiffness that worsens with activity or prolonged positions, such as standing or looking over your shoulder.

What to Expect at Pain Management Solutions

Our board-certified physician, Dr. Francis Pecoraro, specializes in pinpointing the exact source of your pain and delivering targeted treatment. All procedures are done on-site in a comfortable outpatient setting, using image guidance for accuracy and safety. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within a day or two.

Is a Facet Joint Intervention Right for You?

If you’ve been living with spine pain that hasn’t responded to traditional therapies, facet joint interventions may offer both clarity and relief. At Pain Management Solutions, we’re here to help you get back to the activities you love—without pain holding you back.