Diagnostic facet injections are used in the diagnosis and treatment of facet disease, a condition brought on by degeneration of the facet joints. Your spinal vertebrae are linked by these joints and when they are worn out, oftentimes your mobility is decreased, and pain and inflammation sets in. Visit our facet disease causes page to educate yourself about spinal facet joints and causes of degeneration.
The procedure for giving diagnostic facet injections involves the patient first receiving a local anesthetic to the skin followed by a needle inserted in the facet joint’s surrounding tissue or directly into the joint capsule. A minimally invasive procedure, diagnostic facet injections deliver both a long-lasting corticosteroid and an anesthetic to temporarily relieve the discomfort. If the patient experiences relief, there is a likelihood that the facet joint is a cause of the pain. Side effects of the injection are minimal and the procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.
If you are experiencing decreased mobility or pain in your joints, contact your doctor. He or she can determine if your discomfort is due to facet joints through the use of diagnostic facet injections, a CT scan, or an MRI. Once the diagnosis is complete, you’ll receive treatment recommendations, such as taking non-prescription medications like acetaminophen and engaging in physical therapy exercises. Other treatment choices can be found by visiting our facet disease treatments page.
However, there may be situations when patients need more relief than what the standard treatment provides. Laser Spine Institute offers minimally invasive procedures that provide a quicker recuperation time, higher success rates, and less risk than other treatments like open-back surgery. For a free CT scan or MRI review and to learn more information about our facilities, contact us today.
