Question 1

what usually happens after facet joint injections?

Accepted Answer

Did the pain go away: Facet joint injections are a diagnostic and therapeutic tool that is employed by pain medicine specialists. The goal is to see if your familiar pain goes away in the immediate period after the facet blocks are completed and should this occur, then a diagnosis of facet pain is made and if and when the 'original' pain comes back, there are appropriate therapies that can be employed accordingly.

Question 2

what typically happens after facet joint injections?

Accepted Answer

Diagnostic/therapy: 2 kinds of injection with 2 different goals---either you put steroid, lidocaine, bupivacaine in the facet joint or just block or num the nerves to the facet
either way you are asked if you got pain relief and for how long to diagnose if the facet is the source of your pain--or repeat the injection for therapy---if we know this is your pain source radiofrequency to destroy nerves to facet to block pa.

Question 3

if i have facet joint injections and they work short term what next? how bad do you have to be to get surgery?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on how well they work and how long it lasts between injections. If you can go months, then surgery not close. If it helps for a few days, then a good spine surgeon you need to meet.

Question 4

explain kenalog (triamcinolone) facet joint injections?

Accepted Answer

Why?: Although i used to give them, studies by deyo, et al, and others more recently, have shown little benefit over a systemic steroid injection.  The injection is delivered to the facet joint, the true synovial joints of the spine.  Afcet joints problems are likely if you have pain with backward extension of your spine.

Question 5

would a spinal tap feel like a nerve root block, facet joint injections or more uncomfortable?

Accepted Answer

Discomfort with LP : Depends on lots of things ( mostly technique I have found ) Often patients ask if it will hurt as I am finishing the procedure !! ( they felt absolutely no pain at all )

Question 6

i've had facet joint injections which have not worked i'm bent over can not lean back physio therapy has not worked i've got stenosis and ddd? see pic

Accepted Answer

Tried Epidural?: Epidural Steroid Injections can be quite helpful for spinal stenosis and DDD.  If already tried, maybe stem cell therapy is an option for you, check out Regenexx.Com.  Last Resort is surgery but that is an option as well.

Question 7

ok, had facet joint injections-thoaracic, after epidurals failed...what is next pain management 4 thoracic spine 6 bulgd disc, help?

Accepted Answer

Back pain: Most patients with back pain are best treated with weight loss, core strengthening, regular exercise, regular stretching, and anti-inflammatory meds as needed.  It is very unlikely that the disc bulges in your thorax are the major cause of you back pain.  Please consult your pcp for further input on this complex problem.

Question 8

i've had facet joint injections that haven't worked i have pains in hips and pins and needles physiotherapy has not worked what do you recommend next?

Accepted Answer

Back pain: In addition to cortisone injections, physical therapy, chiropractic care, back bracing and neuropathic pain medicine can reduce or eliminate the pain. See a neurosurgeon to evaluate the pain because herniated discs with nerve impingement, tears in the disc, and inflammation of the sacroiliac joints can mimic facet joint pain.

Question 9

my husband has 4 ruptured disc in the lumbar and his dr is wanting to do a  lumbar facet joint injections will this help him? this is a new dr that has just seen him 1 time. my husband has had 2 mri's and he has had this problem for 5 years

Accepted Answer

Back : Back pain maybe caused by the disks, facet joints, muscles, nerves, spinal cord not to mention other organ systems.  Facet joint arthritis is a common cause of back pain and often responds well to injections, radiofrequency burning of facet nerves and endoscopic rhizotomy cutting of facet nerves.  Please see my avvo health guide on facet disease.

Question 10

i've had 3 facet joint injections that were ineffective. what is usually the next course of treatment?

Accepted Answer

Facet Injection: There are many causes of back pain. Facet injections are used mainly for back pain syndromes that are felt to be caused by pathology from the facet joint.  If such injections are ineffective, then the pain generating component of your back pain requires further investigation to determine further treatment options.

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Doctor answers about:

Alternatives to facet joint injections

A member asked:

What usually happens after facet joint injections?

A member asked:

What typically happens after facet joint injections?

A member asked:

If i have facet joint injections and they work short term what next? how bad do you have to be to get surgery?

A member asked:

Explain kenalog (triamcinolone) facet joint injections?

A member asked:

Would a spinal tap feel like a nerve root block, facet joint injections or more uncomfortable?

A member asked:

I've had facet joint injections which have not worked i'm bent over can not lean back physio therapy has not worked i've got stenosis and ddd? see pic

A member asked:

Ok, had facet joint injections-thoaracic, after epidurals failed...what is next pain management 4 thoracic spine 6 bulgd disc, help?

A member asked:

I've had facet joint injections that haven't worked i have pains in hips and pins and needles physiotherapy has not worked what do you recommend next?

A member asked:

My husband has 4 ruptured disc in the lumbar and his dr is wanting to do a lumbar facet joint injections will this help him? this is a new dr that has just seen him 1 time. my husband has had 2 mri's and he has had this problem for 5 years

A member asked:

I've had 3 facet joint injections that were ineffective. what is usually the next course of treatment?

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