Facet Joint Injections — Cervical / Thoracic / Lumbar Spine
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The spine is made up of vertebrae connected by small paired joints called facet (or zygapophyseal) joints. These joints allow controlled motion and help stabilize the spine. When these joints become inflamed, injured, arthritic or overloaded, they can become a significant source of neck, upper‑back, mid‑back or lower‑back pain.
At iSCORE Inc., a facet joint injection is a minimally invasive, image‑guided treatment in which anti‑inflammatory medications (and sometimes anesthetic) are precisely delivered into or around these facet joints in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid‑back) or lumbar (lower‑back) spine. The goal: reduce joint inflammation, relieve pain, restore mobility and support your recovery plan.
Causes of Facet Joint Pain
Facet‑joint pain can arise from a variety of underlying issues, including:
- Degenerative facet joint osteoarthritis (wear & tear of the joint surfaces) Hospital for Special Surgery
- Trauma or injury (such as whiplash to the cervical spine) that irritates the facet joint capsule or its nerves NCBI+1
- Increased mechanical stress on the facet joint due to disc degeneration, spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), or instability of the spine segment NCBI+1
- Inflammation or synovial irritation of the joint (capsulitis)
Because the facet joints are richly innervated and located at many levels in the spine, pain from these joints may be localized (axial) or refer to shoulders, arms, hips or buttocks depending on the level involved (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
Common Symptoms
Patients with facet‑joint irritation or pathology may experience:
- A deep, aching pain in the neck, upper back (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar) that is worse with extension, rotation or bending backward. NCBI+1
- Pain that may refer to the shoulders or arms (in cervical facets) or hips/buttocks (in lumbar facets) though true radiating nerve compression may instead point to disc or nerve root causes. NCBI+1
- Stiffness, reduced range of motion in the spine segment, especially after periods of inactivity or on waking.
- Flare‑ups after prolonged extension, twisting, or loading of the spine segment.
- Pain that may respond partially to conservative therapy (physical therapy, medications, injections) but remains persistent.
Treatment Options (Non‑Surgical)
At iSCORE Inc., we offer a comprehensive approach to facet‑joint pain, including state‑of‑the‑art injections combined with rehabilitation, lifestyle modification and regenerative options when appropriate. Our treatment pathway includes:
Diagnostic & Conservative Care
- Initial evaluation with our interventional spine specialists, imaging (MRI, CT, ultrasound) and assessment of facet‑joint contribution.
- Non‑invasive therapies such as physical therapy, activity modification, non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory medications and gentle spinal mobilization.
Facet Joint Injection Procedure
- The injection is performed under image guidance (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) to ensure accurate placement of the needle in or around the joint capsule. Spine-health+1
- Medication typically includes a local anesthetic (for immediate pain relief) and a corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation) for longer‑term effects. Hospital for Special Surgery
- The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis; most patients return home the same day with minimal downtime.
Post‑Procedure Rehabilitation & Monitoring
- After the injection, patients are guided through a tailored rehabilitation program to strengthen supporting muscles, restore motion and break the pain cycle.
- At iSCORE Inc., we monitor outcomes and adjust treatment as needed—including follow‑up injections, medial branch blocks, or radiofrequency ablation if appropriate.
Advanced & Regenerative Options (When Indicated)
- For patients with more complex facet‑joint degeneration or multi‑level spine involvement, we may integrate advanced therapies offered at our center including biologic injections (like PRP or BMC) and image‑guided interventions.
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