Joint Injections and Facet Injections: A joint injection can provide significant joint pain relief if you are having difficulty finding relief from joint pain through medications or physical therapy.
Joint injections are non-surgical pain-relieving medications that contain a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroid which is delivered directly into the damaged joint tissue. The solution is injected into the damaged joint tissue to provide immediate and long-lasting pain relief.
Joint injections can be used to relieve pain from any joint such as knees, shoulder, facet, elbow, hips, wrists, and so on.
Facet joint injection is similar to joint injection. It contains the same anesthetic and corticosteroid used for other joints. The facet joint injection is an injection administered into a facet joint to relieve pain.
Facet joints are synovial joints lined with cartilage that connect the bones of the spine. Facet joints can glide and slide to allow the spine to bend and twist.
The facet joint can degenerate over time as you age. As it degenerates, wear and tear occur. The joint may become irritated and inflamed, leading to pain.
The medial nerves are responsible for transmitting pain signals from the irritated or inflamed facet joint to the brain.
The purpose of the facet joint injection is to help diagnose the cause of the pain, the location of the pain, and also to relieve the pain. It serves as both diagnosis and treatment.
Facet joint injection is used for both diagnostic and treatment purposes.
As a diagnostic procedure, it allows your doctor to know the cause and location of the pain. Your doctor will be able to know the nerve responsible for transmitting the pain signals to your brain.
In a situation where the injection doesn’t provide any pain relief, it may indicate that the facet joint is not the cause of your pain but if you experience immediate pain relief, it may indicate that the facet joint is indeed the cause of the pain.
Your doctor will review your medical history and ask some questions concerning your pain. The skin around the pain area may be physically examined. You may be asked to stand and move, twist or turn, and explain how you feel.
Your doctor may also perform imaging scans such as x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to view your internal bones to check which bone or spine has any problem.
Your doctor will discuss the procedure with you and give you instructions to follow. A nurse will examine your blood pressure and pulse rate. If you take blood-thinning medication, you will need to stop taking them for several days before your treatment.
First, you will be given an IV line to help you feel more comfortable.
You will be asked to lie down on your belly facing down on a procedure table. Your doctor will clean the injection site.
You will be administered a local anesthetic to numb the injection site so that you don’t feel pain.
With the aid of a fluoroscope, your doctor will then insert a hollow needle and direct it into your facet joint. The fluoroscope is connected to a screen where your doctor views the direction of the needle. Your doctor then directs the needle to the right location.
Your doctor will first inject a small amount of contrast dye into the area so that he or she can see the area more clearly.
When your doctor has confirmed that the needle is in the right position, the solution containing anesthetic and corticosteroid will be injected into the affected joint.
This procedure takes just about 15 – 30 minutes.
You will be taken to a recovery room where you will be observed and monitored for about 30 minutes.
You will be asked to perform some physical activities that increase pain such as bending and twisting to know if you are experiencing any pain relief.
You may be given a pain diary so that you can record your daily improvements.
You are allowed to go home but you shouldn’t drive. You can’t drive for 12 hours after having the injection. Someone else should drive you home.
You may need to take the injection two to three times a year to sustain your pain relief.
Your doctor may recommend having facet joint injections up to three times every year. Do not take the injection again if you don’t experience any pain relief after having the first injection.
Apex Interventional Pain & Spine Clinic does its best when it comes to providing joint injections to relieve pain.
We focus on providing pain treatments and managing pain symptoms. We provide many different pain treatment techniques and procedures including facet joint injections.
We also provide supportive care and walk with you through your recovery period to ensure that you experience improvements in your quality of life.
Joint and facet joint injection is an easy but effective treatment for facet joint and other joint pain. If you are experiencing facet joint or any other joint pain, you can experience great relief by having joint injections.
Our aim is to treat, manage your pain, and improve your quality of life.
Contact us today or book an appointment. You can give us a call at 972-833-7256.
