Facet Joint Pain Relief

Facet joints are located in the back behind and in between each vertebrae. They support the vertebrae and help stabilize it, giving the spine approximately 20 percent of its twisting ability. Facet joint pain can be the result of arthritis, injury or damage to the cartilage that cushions the joint. Finding relief of facet joint pain often requires a multifaceted approach.

Lifestyle Adjustments

• Be sure to have a doctor properly diagnose your condition. For most people with facet joint pain, making alterations in daily life is important not only to provide pain relief but to also prevent later flare ups or further degeneration.
  Work on maintaining proper posture to reduce the stress the spine experiences in every move throughout the day. You will also want to review your most common activities to make sure you are not doing excessive lifting. When you do lift things, make sure you are lifting with your legs and not bent at the hips. Look at desks and other workstations to make sure you are not twisting a lot through basic work activities. This will help reduce the stress on the facet joints.

Physical Therapy

• Exercise will improve circulation, strength and flexibility. All of these will contribute to reducing facet joint pain. The goal of physical therapy is to increase the strength of the weakened areas that may be contributing to an imbalance and thus creating pressure on the joint. Reducing pressure will help reduce inflammation and much of the pain caused by it. Talk to your doctor to develop a physical therapy and exercise program that is right for you. Swimming and yoga are also great low-impact activities that will help improve strength and flexibility.

Pharmaceutical Management

• Medications may be utilized to reduce swelling and help alleviate pain. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen may be enough to reduce muscle spasms and decrease inflammation. If your course of therapy is not working, strong prescription medications may be given by your doctor. These include muscle relaxers. If medications fail, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure, "de-nerving" the facet joint by placing a small electrode in the nerve to stop the nerve function in the joint.