Facet Joint Injections Dubai
What is a FACET JOINT?
Facet joints are situated at the posterior of the spine on both sides where two adjacent vertebrae meet. These joints promote spinal stability and facilitate bending and twisting. They comprise cartilage between bones and are enclosed by a capsule filled with lubricating fluid.
Pain caused by Facet Joint Disorder and their symptoms
FJD can cause pain in different sections of the spine, manifesting the following symptoms:
Parts of the Spine | Symptoms of Facet Joint Disorders |
|---|---|
Cervical (neck) | Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, arm pain or weakness, difficulty moving the neck |
Thoracic (upper back) | Pain and stiffness in the upper back, difficulty twisting or bending, and discomfort when breathing deeply. |
Lumbar (lower back) | Localised dull pain in the back, radiating pain to the buttock, thigh, legs, or foot, tenderness, and joint stiffness. |
Facet joints in the lower back experience excessive strain from routine activities like exercise, work, and daily actions. These joints can become painful due to the following:
- Poor posture
- Age-related degeneration of supporting tissues and intervertebral discs of the spine
- Acute trauma resulting from an accident, fall, or sports injury
- Chronic lower back injury due to repetitive facet overuse
What is a facet joint injection?
A facet joint injection is an injection given onto the facet joint. It is used for localised spinal pain where simpler measures have not helped. It reduces pain signals from the joint and thus gives long-lasting pain relief. The injection contains local anaesthetic, often with a small amount of steroid. The injection is usually undertaken alongside other treatments, such as physiotherapy typically to aid repair.
What is the procedure for a facet joint injection?
The entire procedure typically takes 15-30 minutes and involves the following steps:
- A hollow needle is used, depending on the patient's body size, along with a fluoroscopy unit or CT scanner.
- Sedation is optional, depending on the patient's preference.
- Using X-ray or CT guidance, the physician inserts the needle into the affected facet joint.
- Contrast material is injected to ensure the needle is correctly positioned inside the joint.
- After confirmation, a mixture of anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication is slowly injected, followed by needle removal.
Benefits of a facet joint injection
Facet joint injection is often effective for many patients and is safer than other diagnostic techniques that require radiation. If the injection is effective for the patient, they can undergo the procedure up to three times yearly.
Who is the right candidate for facet joint injection?
Dr EL Toukhy assesses your health to see if you are fine for the procedure. He will also examine your pain and discuss other treatment options with you before deciding to proceed with the injection(s) because your consent is needed. He will explain the likelihood of this being a successful treatment for you.
However, if your health condition has changed, or if you have the following conditions, you should inform the doctor:
- If you have an infection in your body or on the skin, where the cannula will be applied.
- If you have been started on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines that “thin the blood”, such as warfarin, heparin or clopidogrel, this may require extra preparation.
- If you suffer from diabetes, it's necessary to inform the doctor because the use of steroids during injections may cause your blood sugar to change, requiring monitoring and adjustment of your diabetic medication.
- If you have any allergies,
Finally, you must also inform the doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.
What to expect- the after-effects of a facet joint injection
After the injection, patients may experience increased pain as the numbing medication wears off and the cortisone begins to work. Discomfort and warmth in the injection area are common, and blood pressure increases, or fluid retention may occur.
Recovery
After the injection, it’s recommended to wait until the pain reduces before engaging in light exercises or walking to improve muscle tone. Gradually increase activities, and if pain occurs, contact a medical professional for further evaluation.
Dr EL Toukhy is a well-known pain management specialist with years of experience. He provides effective and non-surgical treatments for chronic and debilitating pain.
Consult Dr Mohamed El Toukhy and set yourself free from facet joint pain.