Treating Back Pain Using Facet Joint Injections

Back pain can be as a result of facet joints found between the vertebral bodies. Pain comes about when a person sits stretches or makes a turn, the condition is associated with discomfort and the pain can be intense.

One form of therapy used to bring relief to this type of back ache involves injecting small doses of steroids in the joints. Patients get improvement in the condition after a few weeks or months. The injections are followed up by rhizolysis; this involves destroying nerves that supply these joints by using radiofrequency waves. This is used to give long term relief to the condition. These nerves regenerate and cause the pain after months or years, the same procedure can be used to correct the problem.

Epidural and steroids slipped discs occur in the lumbar spine; the condition causes back pains and can give rise to shooting pains in one or both legs. Spondylolisthesis is where the one or more vertebra slips. The condition narrows the space available for spinal cord and nerve roots. Spinal stenosis is the condition caused by narrowing the spinal space. MRI scans can be used to diagnose the problem.

The condition can be treated by either carrying an operation in the area or performing an epidural with depot steroid. Treatment will depend on symptoms and the condition of the surrounding nerves.

In case back pains are as a result of slipped discs, patients should start on treatment as soon as possible as it guarantees higher chances of long term relief in pain. Other forms of therapy that can bring relief to back pain problems include; analgesic drugs where topical painkillers are used, physiotherapy, psychotherapy and pain management programs.