Facet Joint Injections in New York

What Is a Facet Joint?

The facet joint, also known as the zygapophyseal joint, is a small joint located between each pair of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. These joints are located on either side of the spine and are responsible for directing and controlling the movement of the spine.
Each joint is made up of the following parts:

• The articular surfaces: the smooth surfaces of the bones that meet at the joint.
• Synovial membrane: a thin membrane that surrounds the joint and produces synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage.
• Capsule: which encloses the entire joint and helps keep the synovial fluid in place.
• Ligaments: which surround the frontal joint, provide stability and limit excessive movement.

The joints play an important role in the stability and mobility of the spine. They help control the range of motion of the spine and protect it from twisting or excessive bending. However, these joints can cause pain, especially with osteoarthritis, injury, or degeneration, ultimately leading to arthritic joint pain or arthritic joint syndrome.

What Are the Symptoms of Facet Joint Disorders?

The symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders can vary depending on the location and severity of the problem.
The most common symptoms include:

• Localized pain in the area of the affected facet joint. The pain may be sharp or dull and may be aggravated by certain movements or activities.
• Stiffness occurring in the affected area and making it difficult to bend or twist the spine.
• Radiating pain to the hip, thigh, or shoulders, depending on the position of the affected joint.
• Muscle spasms surrounding the affected intervertebral joint.
• Pain with certain movements, such as twisting or bending the back.

Pain relief through rest can temporarily ease the pain caused by a facet joint disorder. It is important to know that these symptoms can also be caused by other diseases of the spine. It is, therefore, essential to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

If this has already been determined, the injection can be used to provide relief. The mixture of numbing anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid medication can have an effect in as little as one or two injections.

New York Pain Care provides exceptional pain management in New York to countless patients every year. We offer many different procedures to effectively diagnose and treat various kinds of  chronic pain. If you’re suffering with pain that’s affecting your everyday life, contact us today. Begin the process that will give you your life back.

Why Spinal Facet Joint Injections?

During an injection into the intertrochanteric joint, the doctor administers a mixture of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroids directly into the affected joint under X-ray guidance. This targeted approach effectively relieves pain coming from the intertrochanteric joint. Doctors in New York often treat neck and lower back pain at the facet joints. Neck, head, and shoulder pain may require an injection into the cervical spine, while upper back and chest pain associated with upper back facets can be treated with an injection into the thoracic spine. Conversely, lower back, hip, and buttock pain originating from facets usually requires an injection into the lumbar spine.

Our Board certified doctors

Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASABook Now David Chu, MD, FAAPMRBook Now Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMRBook Now Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPMBook Now

Post-Injection Recovery

If the leading cause of the discomfort is the spine or intervertebral joints of the cervical spine, an injection into the intervertebral joints of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine can provide immediate relief. After a short observation period of about 20 to 30 minutes, you can return to normal daily activities. In addition, a reputable pain specialist will suggest exercises to restore full range of motion in the following weeks.

If the injections don’t provide immediate relief, you can resume your daily routine and take oral painkillers as needed until the steroid medication takes effect. By choosing an experienced pain management doctor at New York Pain Care, the likelihood of side effects is greatly reduced, as the priority of the esteemed doctors at New York’s leading pain clinic is to ensure patient comfort and health.

New York Pain Care
20 Squadron Blvd, Suite 290
New City, NY 10956
(212) 242-8160