Facet Joint Injections in Memphis
If you suffer from chronic pain, you might benefit from a facet joint injection. By injecting medication directly into the facet joints, your pain doctor can help to reduce inflammation and provide some much-needed relief.
What Is a Facet Joint Injection?
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat pain in the spine's facet joints. The facet joints are small joints that connect the vertebrae and that allow the spine to move. However, these joints can become damaged or degenerate, leading to pain and inflammation.
Facet joint injections can help relieve this pain by delivering a steroid medication directly to the affected area. The medication helps to reduce inflammation and block pain signals from reaching the brain. In addition, the injection can provide diagnostic information by helping to pinpoint which facet joint is causing pain.
Facet joint injections are typically performed outpatient, and most patients experience significant pain relief after the procedure.
What Are Some Common Uses of the Procedure?
Facet joint injections are most commonly used to treat back or neck pain. However, they also treat pain in other body areas, such as the hip, shoulder, or elbow. When used to treat pain in the spine, facet injections can be performed on either the cervical (neck) spine, thoracic (mid-back) spine, or lumbar (lower back) spine.
How Is a Facet Joint Injection Done?
Facet joint injections are typically performed using fluoroscopy, a type of live X-ray that allows the doctor to see the spine in real-time. The doctor will first numb the skin over the injection site with a local anesthetic. Once the area is numb, the doctor will insert a needle into the facet joint and inject the steroid medication. The entire procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
What Are the Expected Results?
The results of a facet joint injection can vary depending on the individual. Most patients experience significant pain relief within a few days of the procedure. The pain relief typically lasts for several weeks or months. Multiple injections may be necessary to achieve long-term pain relief in some cases.
What Should You Expect After Facet Joint Injections?
After the procedure, we’ll keep you for a short time to monitor for any complications. Once we determine that your blood pressure and heart rate are stable, you will be able to go home. It is important to rest for the remainder of the day and avoid strenuous activity. You may experience some soreness at the injection site, but this can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication.
Most patients can return to their normal activities within a few days. However, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions and take things easy for the first few days after the procedure.
How Often Should a Facet Joint Injection Be Done?
You can do facet joint injections as often as necessary to control pain. In most cases, patients will only need one or two injections per year. However, some patients with more severe pain may need more frequent injections.
Facet joint injections are a safe and effective way to treat chronic pain. The procedure is typically well-tolerated, and most patients experience significant pain relief. If you are suffering from facet joint pain, contact Mays & Schnapp to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you determine whether this pain relief therapy might be right for you and develop a personalized care plan for treating your pain.