Facet Joint Injection and RFA for Back Pain & Neck Pain

Facet Joint Injection and Radiofrequency Ablation Advanced Pain Management for Back Pain & Neck Pain

At Mitigate Pain Clinic, we specialize in interventional pain management techniques designed to alleviate chronic spinal pain.

The effective procedures we provide for back and neck pain are
→ Facet Joint Intra-Articular Injection,
→ Medial Branch Block and
→ Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA).

These treatments target facet joint pain, a common source of discomfort and pain in the neck and back.

Understanding Facet Joint Pain

Facet joints are small, paired joints located at each segment of the spine, providing stability and enabling motion. Over time, these joints can become inflamed or degenerate, leading to chronic neck or back pain. This condition is often referred to as facet joint syndrome or facet arthropathy. Some refer to it as spondylitis.

Facet Joint Intra-Articular Injection

A Facet Joint Intra-Articular Injection involves delivering medicines directly into the affected facet joint. This procedure serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes-

Diagnostic: By numbing the facet joint, physicians can confirm whether it is the source of pain.
Therapeutic: The injection reduces inflammation, potentially providing significant pain relief.

Facet Joint Injection Procedure Overview

Preparation: The patient lies facing down in operation theater and the skin over the targeted area is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic.
Guided Injection: Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, a thin needle is carefully inserted into the facet joint.
Medication Delivery: Once the needle is correctly positioned, the medication is injected into the joint. The needle is then removed.

The entire procedure typically takes about about 30 minutes. Patients may experience immediate and medium to long term relief. Facet joint injection can be done for only back pain and not for neck pain.

Medial Branch Block (MBB)

While a facet joint intra-articular injection targets the joint directly, a Medial Branch Block focuses on the small nerves (called medial branch nerves) that supply the facet joints. These nerves are responsible for transmitting pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. Medial branch block can be done for both neck pain and back pain.

Purpose of MBB:

Diagnostic: Medial branch blocks are primarily used to confirm whether the facet joints are the actual source of your back or neck pain.

Medial Branch Block Procedure Overview:

Preparation: Similar to the facet joint injection procedure, the patient lies facing down in operation theater and the skin over the targeted area is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic.
Needle Placement: Using fluoroscopy (live X-ray), the pain physician carefully inserts thin needles near the medial branch nerves.
Anesthetic Injection: A small amount of local anesthetic is injected to block the medial branch nerves.
Monitoring Results: If your pain significantly reduces shortly after the injection, it indicates the facet joints are likely the source of your pain.

This procedure typically takes about 30 minutes. Relief may begin within minutes and usually lasts for a few hours.

If the block proves successful, you may be a good candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), which can offer longer-term relief by disrupting these nerves.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

If facet joint injections provide temporary relief or if a medial branch block is successful, Radiofrequency Ablation may be recommended for longer-lasting results. RFA uses heat energy to disrupt the function of nerves transmitting pain signals from the facet joints.

Facet Joint RFA Procedure Overview:

Preparation: Similar to the facet joint injection procedure, the patient lies facing down in operation theater and the skin over the targeted area is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic.
Needle Placement: Under fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, specialized needles are positioned near the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints.
Nerve Ablation: A microelectrode is inserted through the needle to deliver radiofrequency energy, heating the nerve tissue and disrupting its ability to transmit pain signals.

The procedure usually takes 45 to 90 minutes. Pain relief typically develops over three to four weeks and can last from a few months to years.

Benefits of These Procedures

Minimally Invasive: These interventions are day care procedures which means patients can be discharged on the same day of procedure.
Targeted Pain Relief: By directly addressing the source of pain, these procedures provide significant pain relief.
Reduced Medication Dependence: Effective pain management can decrease the need for oral pain medications.
Improved quality of life

Potential Risks and Considerations

While generally safe, potential risks include:

Temporary Discomfort: Some patients may experience soreness at the injection site.
Infection: As with any invasive procedure, there’s a slight risk of infection.

At Mitigate Pain Clinic, we ensure that these procedures are performed with the highest standards of safety and precision.

Conclusion

Facet Joint Injections and Radiofrequency Ablation are effective options for managing chronic neck pain and back pain associated with facet joint arthropathy. At Mitigate Pain Clinic, we are committed to providing personalized, cutting-edge treatments to help our patients achieve improved quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Facet joint pain often presents as localized discomfort in the neck or back, which may worsen with certain movements. A thorough evaluation by a pain specialist can help diagnose facet joint pain.

Patients may experience mild discomfort during the procedures, but local anesthesia is used to minimize pain. Most patients tolerate the treatments well.

Most patients can resume normal activities within a day or two. However, it's advisable to avoid strenuous activities for a few days following the procedure.

If pain recurs, the procedures can be repeated. Alternatively, other treatment options can be explored in consultation with your pain specialist.

Yes, alternatives include physical therapy, medications and other interventional techniques. A comprehensive evaluation will help determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific condition.