Cervical Facet Joint Blocks
What are facet joints?
The facet joints are the joints in your spine that make your back flexible and enable you to bend and twist and these are one of the most common pain generators in the neck.
Why do I need this injection?
You may have pain in the neck or arm, headaches, and limited range of motion (ROM) of neck possibly caused by wear and tear of the facet joints in the spine. The pain is described as a dull, aching discomfort in the back of the neck that sometimes spreads to the shoulder or mid back regions. Injecting the facet joint can help relieve the pain. It is a gold standard diagnostic tool for neck spondylitis.
What is the aim of the treatment?
The aim of a facet joint injection is to instill local anaesthetic and a long acting steroid either into the facet joint or close to the nerve that supplies the facet joint called the medial branch. Facet joint injections can be used in two ways:
- As a diagnostic tool to confirm whether the facet joint is the cause of the neck pain.
- As a treatment for the pain, repeated as necessary.
How are these injections performed?
You will be asked to lie face down on the x-ray couch, whilst the area to be injected is cleaned with antiseptic solution. The skin is then numbed with a local anaesthetic. Using x-ray/ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is inserted into the facet joint or placed close to the nerve that supply the facet joints. A small amount of local anaesthetic and the long acting steroid is then injected around the nerves or in the joint.
How long will the pain relief last for?
Pain relief varies for each individual. Your pain may:
- Be relieved significantly and for long periods
- Be reduced for several weeks and then return, but not as bad as before
- Be reduced for several weeks but the original pain recurs
- When the facet joint is not the source of pain, the pain relief could be unsatisfactory
What are the risks and complications of the treatment?
Soreness or bruising where the injection was given. This usually settles in a few days. Like all x-ray machines the one used during this procedure produces x-rays. Modern equipment is designed to keep the dose to patients as low as possible.However, if you think you may be pregnant, it is very important that you tell us before the procedure. Please read our FAQ section to know about the do's and dont's prior to and after the procedure.