Lumbar Facet Joint Injection

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Lumbar Facet Joint Injection

Lumbar Facet Joint Injection

Definition

The facet joints are located along both sides of the spine. These small joints are responsible for supporting, stabilizing, and helping the spine move as it should. The facet joints can cause pain if they are injured or if the patient has a condition affecting the spine, such as arthritis. In the lumbar, or lower region of the spine, this inflammation can cause pain in the low back, hips, legs, and buttocks. Lumbar facet joint injections can be used diagnostically or therapeutically to reduce inflammation by administering soothing medication near the joint for pain relief.

Procedure

This short procedure begins with the patient lying on his or her stomach. The lower back is sterilized to reduce the risk of infection, and the patient will be given an anesthetic to numb the area. Then, the physician will position a fluoroscope to focus on the affected area. A fluoroscope is a type of X-ray device that allows the physician to see images of the spine in real-time. A special dye that lights up on the fluoroscope may be injected into the low back to confirm exactly where the facet joint injection needs to go. Finally, a mix of anesthetic and steroid medication is injected into the joint. Overall, the procedure should only take about 30 minutes to complete.

After Care

Following a facet joint injection, patients may begin to feel pain relief within 3 days of the initial injection, although some report reduced facet joint pain even sooner. The low back may be sore after the procedure as the anesthetic wears off, although it should not last more than a few days. We generally advise not going to work the same day as the procedure and spending about a day recovering at home. Patients are welcome to return to work the following day. The efficacy of the procedure is different for everyone, and patients may experience relief for a few months before the effects wear off. If this is the case, patients can have the procedure repeated.

Follow up appointments may be necessary, especially if the injection was used for diagnostic purposes. If the injection has not adequately managed pain, another part of the body may be causing the symptoms. If patients experience increased pain, excessive swelling and redness, or infection, our physicians suggest calling Tulsa Pain immediately and not waiting until the follow up appointment to report these symptoms.

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