Overview
The facet joints are small, paired joints at each level of the spine that provide stability while allowing controlled movement. When these joints become inflamed, arthritic, or irritated due to injury, degeneration, or wear and tear, they can cause significant localised and referred pain.
Facet joint injections can serve both a diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. By delivering local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication directly into or around the affected joint, they can help confirm the facet joint as the source of pain while also providing symptom relief. Patients who experience significant pain relief following diagnostic injections may be suitable candidates for radiofrequency denervation of the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints, which can provide longer-lasting pain reduction.
This stepwise approach makes facet joint interventions an important tool in the management of spinal pain.
Conditions Treated
- Lumbar facet joint pain (lower back)
- Cervical facet joint pain (neck)
- Thoracic facet joint pain (mid-back)
- Spinal osteoarthritis
- Whiplash-related neck pain
- Post-injury spinal pain
- Spondylosis
Available Procedures
Intra-Articular Facet Joint Injection
Image-guided injection to reduce facet joint inflammation and spinal pain.
Medial Branch Block (Diagnostic)
Diagnostic nerve block used to confirm the source of facet joint pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Longer-lasting nerve treatment providing extended relief from facet joint pain.
