Facet Arthropathy/Facet Syndrome

Facet joints are small joints found at almost each spinal level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar). These joints aide in twisting motion and associated stability in the spine. The angles of the facet joints vary at each spinal level to provide limitations to excessive rotational forces that can lead to instability and injury. Symptoms can include back pain that may/may not radiate into posterior aspect of lower extremities or neck pain that may/may not radiate to the head and shoulders. Symptoms can be treated with non-surgically with medication, therapy, and facet joint injections, facet blocks, radio frequency ablation to name a few. In some cases of destabilizing spine injury, surgery may be an option.