Ten Ways to Avoid Surgery With Low Back Pain From Facet Joint Syndrome

Facet Syndrome is a condition in the low back that involves a problem with the facet joints, which are thumbnail sized joints on either side of the spine at every level. As with any synovial joint in one's body, arthritis can ensue, and the facet joints are no exception. Facet joint arthritis typically occurs at numerous levels, so if surgery is undertaken quite a few levels would need to be addressed. This is usually not a good indication for surgery unless one has significant degenerative scoliosis, instability or a separate issue needing to be addressed.

There are numerous ways to avoid surgery with facet arthritis and facet syndrome. Here are the top ten nonoperative methods.

1) Live With the Pain, Activity Modification - Not ideal but at the end of the day surgery for facet arthritis is a quality of life decision. If a patient can avoid painful activities and thereby keep the pain under control this may in fact be the best option. All legitimate nonsurgical options should be exhausted and this may be the last option standing.

2) Lower Your Body Mass Index - Being overweight equals extra weight on the arthritic facet joints. If the joint is painful from arthritis and the body weight is pushing down on the painful region then extra pressure may exacerbate the problem.

3) PT, Rehab, Lumbar Strengthening - Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine, thereby reducing pressure on the arthritic and painful facet joints.

4) Spinal Decompression - This is a revolutionary nonoperative treatment that is FDA Cleared, very safe, and highly effective that may dramatically decrease the pain from facet syndrome. Treatment at an AZ pain center with spinal decompression therapy may allow surgery avoidance.

5) Chiropractic Treatment - Treatment from a phoenix chiropractor may be extremely effective at reducing low back pain from facet arthritis.

6) Medial Branch Blocks - The nerve endings that supply sensation to the facet joints are called medial branches. They can be numbed with numbing and steroid medication placed into the area of the medial branches around each of the affected facet joints. As with facet injections, this may provide relief for months at a time.

7) Facet Blocks - These are injections of steroid and numbing medication placed directly into the facet joints for pain relief. They may give substantial pain relief for days, weeks, or months.

8) Radiofrequency Ablation - Termed RFA, this procedure involves thermal ablation, or burning, of the medial branches, which are the tiny nerve endings supplying sensation to the facet joints. This procedure is the most modern available for facet syndrome pain and may help with pain relief for 3-18 months.

9) Pain Medication - NSAIDS and pain medication may provide excellent pain relief on a daily or as needed basis with flare ups.

10) Bracing and TENS Unit - These may provide significant benefit with pain reduction for facet arthritis. TENS machines are available at your AZ pain doctors office.