Facet Joint Injection in Plano, TX
Specialties
Find Lasting Pain Relief With Facet Joint Injections at Advanced Spine Center in Plano, TX
Facet joint syndrome is a painful condition that can lead to stiffness and a limited range of movement. When this condition impacts your daily life, consider seeking facet joint injections at Advanced Spine Center.
As a spine doctor in Plano, TX, Stephen Courtney ensures that every patient receives the same level of quality, personalized care. In addition to performing surgeries to address spine-related health conditions, he also offers non-surgical treatment options focused on pain relief. Dr. Courtney will help you figure out whether a facet joint injection or other Plano nerve block procedures could help you.
If you’re ready to discuss your pain symptoms with a medical professional, contact Advanced Spine Center at (972) 499-5457 through our online contact page.
What are Facet Joints in The Spine?
Your spinal column consists of a series of vertebrae connected by small joints. These joints are called facet joints. They support movement and stability in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
What Causes Facet Joint Pain?
According to information shared by the National Library of Medicine, facet joint pain syndromes comprise a high percentage of chronic spinal pain conditions. In fact, more than half of chronic cervical spinal pain is related to facet joint pain. Many factors can lead or contribute to pain symptoms in the facet joints, including:
- Facet joint arthritis (AKA facet arthropathy)
- Age-related wear and tear
- Disc degeneration
- Spinal injuries or repetitive strain
- Poor posture and spinal instability
Advanced Spine Center offers reliable, professional treatment for all of these issues. Consult with our doctor to learn more about Plano, TX, treatment for facet arthropathy, disc degeneration, spinal injuries, and more.
What Is a Facet Joint Injection?
These injections involve delivering medicine directly to an affected joint to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The procedure is usually performed by radiologists or pain-management specialists who are appropriately trained and experienced in image-guided facet joint corticosteroid injections using CT imaging.
Facet joint injections can serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Local anesthetics are often used for diagnostic injections, and corticosteroids for therapeutic injections. Sometimes, injections have a combination of both medicines. The entire procedure for a facet joint injection typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, after which patients are monitored before going home. Texas pain management physicians usually recommend this option when conservative treatments, such as oral pain medications or physical therapy, don’t adequately address pain.
Conditions Treated With Facet Joint Injections
Advanced Spine Center utilizes facet injections to address various spinal-related complications. The precise injection site depends on where the pain is. Aided by X-ray or CT guidance, a medical professional may place injections into your upper, middle, or lower spine. Dr. Stephen Courtney starts by carefully evaluating your condition, then informing you of the available treatment options.
Lumbar Spine Facet Joint Pain
Inflamed facet joints in the lumbar spine cause lower back pain and stiffness. Sometimes, patients also experience hip, buttock, or leg pain. Lumbar spinal injections in Plano, TX, often improve overall comfort and mobility.
Cervical Facet Joint Pain
Neck pain, headaches, and reduced range of motion are common consequences of facet joint issues in the cervical spine. These issues may arise from arthritis or injury. A Plano cervical spinal injection can prove useful for the diagnosis or treatment of spinal pain.
Thoracic Spine Facet Joint Issues
Facet joint issues most commonly occur in the cervical or lumbar spine, but may still affect the thoracic spine. When this happens, it causes mid-back pain and stiffness that can make daily life difficult. Facet blocks are one possible option to address thoracic spine complications.
How Facet Joint Injections Help Provide Pain Relief
When used for therapeutic purposes, these injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the facet joint. Inflammation puts pressure on nearby nerves, so reducing the swelling relieves pain. Most patients also experience easier movement and less stiffness.
Patients’ responses to this procedure can vary. For some individuals, pain relief may last days or weeks. In cases where pain relief lasts longer, it can be effective for 3 to 6 months or even longer, allowing patients to continue with rehabilitation or resume regular activities. Sometimes repeated injections are necessary to manage a complex or chronic condition. However, the number of injections a patient can receive in a year is typically limited by their doctor due to potential negative impacts on bone density from repeated steroid use.
Diagnostic Benefits of a Facet Joint Injection
Injecting an anesthetic directly into a facet joint interrupts any pain signals it is sending, preventing them from reaching the brain. Typically, the numbing effect only lasts a few hours. If the injection works, it means your doctor has successfully located the source of pain and can proceed with developing a treatment plan. Plano spinal specialists generally explore conservative and interventional pain management options before recommending anything more invasive, like surgery.
Facet Joint Injection vs. Radiofrequency Ablation
Both procedures are non-invasive means of reducing pain. While facet joint injections accomplish this through medication, radiofrequency ablation destroys tissue through heat, which interrupts pain signals. Sometimes, Texas spinal specialists use both methods in tandem. Plano, TX, radiofrequency ablation can extend the temporary pain relief of a facet joint injection.
Why Patients Choose Advanced Spine Center for Facet Joint Injections in Plano, TX
Dr. Courtney of Advanced Spine Center has substantial experience in providing personalized care for chronic spine-related conditions. He utilizes minimally invasive techniques, which reduce the risk of treatment and result in faster recovery. Imaging guidance through X-rays or CT scans allows him to place the needle with precision. Serious complications are extremely rare, and we prioritize our patients’ safety and comfort. At every stage of the procedure, our medical team ensures sterile conditions and monitors vital signs.
Treatment plans at Advanced Spine Center are tailored to your symptoms, condition severity, and goals. In addition to facet joint care, we also provide other injection options. For example, Plano medial branch block injections target the medial branch nerves to block pain. Epidural steroid injections are another option to address back pain. This procedure involves delivering medication into the epidural space between your vertebrae and the outermost membrane of the spinal cord.
Notice Pain Relief With Facet Joint Injections in Plano, TX. Schedule an Appointment at Advanced Spine Center Today.
Most people who experience back pain can gain meaningful relief through facet joint injections and similar treatments. Advanced Spine Center is dedicated to exploring potential pain relief solutions with our clients until we reach the best outcome possible. Book an appointment with our team to learn whether a facet joint injection or radiofrequency ablation can help you.
Delaying care for back pain unnecessarily extends your suffering. By seeking care now, you can take control of your life back and ensure painful conditions don’t worsen your spinal health. Set up your appointment with a Plano spine specialist today by calling (972) 499-5457 or contacting us online.
