Question 1

whats bilateral lumbar facet injection?

Accepted Answer

Facet injections!: 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.  Facet joints problems are likely if you have pain with backward extension of your spine.  If you get a bilateral injection, arthritis is seen bilaterally on x-ray!

Question 2

what is the definition or description of: lumbar facet injection?

Accepted Answer

Help back pain: A facet joint injection serves several purposes. First, by placing numbing medicine into the joint, the amount of immediate pain relief you experience will help confirm or deny the joint as a source of your pain. That is, if you obtain complete relief of your main pain while the facet joints are numb, then these joints are likely your pain source.

Question 3

what's the next step after a lumbar facet injection if it doesn't work?

Accepted Answer

Be careful: When you say it didn't work.  If you got short-term pain relief, it did work.  In that case, confirmatory facet blocks and/or medial branch blocks would be the next appropriate step.

Question 4

what are the side effects of having lumbar facet injections two weeks apart?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar facets: Many times the injections are done with deferent medications to rule out a placebo effect   There are no real side effects past infection unless a lot of steroid is used the the  side effects would be steroid related  possible increased blood sugar

Question 5

how many have had lumbar facet injections?

Accepted Answer

Was more common..: Less common today, since some studies cast doubt on serious benefitss.  In my experience they appeared to help.  However, their is no coding specific for facet blocks, so that doctors can bill. These are called cpt codes and facet injection was removed 1/1/11. Nonetheless, a common procedure, which if done properly will not hurt.

Question 6

where is a lumbar facet injection usually done? at a hospital?

Accepted Answer

Pain Dr's office: Injections into the facet joints of the spine are usually done in the pain dr's office or wherever he usually does injections.

Question 7

4 lumbar facet injection 4 weeks ago. no pain in this area prior. now have soreness in area of injection in center lower back,  is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Low back pain : Yes. Sometimes the injections can irritate the nerves, muscles and joints. Try moist heat and stretching the back in the morning. Apply ice to the back at night. A low profile back brace may help relieve the pain too. If the pain persists then see a neurosurgeon.

Question 8

what lumbar facet injection and epidural injection used for?and what is the defferent

Accepted Answer

Lumbar inj: Epidural steroid injections are typically focused at the nerve root (typically for pain that radiates or shoots down a limb), whereas the facet joint injection is focused at the facet joint, which supports the vertebral body connection and is away from the nerve root. Typically facet joint pain is exacerbated by lateral or forward/backward bending.

Question 9

i have a lower back bulging disc around l5.
been treated with epidural lumbar injection 3 times, no real improvements so far, they want to try the lumbar facet injection, would it work better? isn't that just for the facet joints? what differs?

Accepted Answer

Pain generators: facets can be pain generators as well.  Likely, you doctor is thinking that the epidural treated part of the problem but facet block may treat the other component of your problem.  Facet blocks can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic.

Question 10

i have von willie brands disease and need assistance with my back. i have had l5/s1 fused in 2012 but i have chronic pain in my legs and now the neurosurgeon is suggesting lumbar facet injections to manage my pain. is it a good idea?

Accepted Answer

See details: Facet injections can be tried but they usually do not provide significant long term relief.

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Doctor answers about:

Lumbar facet injection

A member asked:

Whats bilateral lumbar facet injection?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: lumbar facet injection?

A member asked:

What's the next step after a lumbar facet injection if it doesn't work?

A member asked:

What are the side effects of having lumbar facet injections two weeks apart?

A member asked:

How many have had lumbar facet injections?

A member asked:

Where is a lumbar facet injection usually done? at a hospital?

A member asked:

4 lumbar facet injection 4 weeks ago. no pain in this area prior. now have soreness in area of injection in center lower back, is this normal?

A member asked:

What lumbar facet injection and epidural injection used for?and what is the defferent

A member asked:

I have a lower back bulging disc around l5. been treated with epidural lumbar injection 3 times, no real improvements so far, they want to try the lumbar facet injection, would it work better? isn't that just for the facet joints? what differs?

A member asked:

I have von willie brands disease and need assistance with my back. i have had l5/s1 fused in 2012 but i have chronic pain in my legs and now the neurosurgeon is suggesting lumbar facet injections to manage my pain. is it a good idea?

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