Facet Joint Syndrome; Facet Joint Pain & Facet Joint Treatment

Lower back pain can come on suddenly or gradually and is sometimes the direct result of a fall or injury. The complex structure of the spine means even small amounts of strain can cause pain or injury. When we consider the amount of effort that our back muscles must exert for example just to lift an object off the ground, then this should be no surprise. This is even less surprising when we consider how poorly people often perform such movements. Lifting a 40-kilogram object off the ground results in up to 400 kilograms of equivalent effort on the muscles of the lower back so you can imagine the potential risks if we do not keep our back in neutral during such movements. Acute injuries in the lower back are less common than those caused by repetitive microtrauma, but poor lifting technique can result in acute episodes of pain.

In this episode we discuss lumbar facet syndrome following inappropriate lifting technique, which resulted in significant pain. Lumbar facet syndrome is a painful irritation in the posterior structures of the spine and is most commonly caused by repetitive microtrauma, resulting in chronic degeneration over time. Swelling in local tissues can cause irritation of surrounding nerves leading to discomfort. Acute events can also result in small capsular tears of the involved facet joints such was the likely cause of acute pain in this case. Patients will often experience a secondary discomfort in surrounding muscles as they react to protect the area, becoming tight due to hypertonic contraction. Lumbar facet syndrome can be treated, and managed, effectively with conservative modalities such as mobilization and manipulation alongside an exercise-based approach for longer term resolution.

Some of the things you’ll discover…

• An understanding of the local, and relevant anatomy
• The incidence of lumbar facet syndrome and who is most commonly affected by the condition
• Characteristics of the condition and how you’re most likely to feel if you experience it
• What you can expect from a clinician examining you
• What is the prognosis of the condition and how can you manage discomfort over the long term?
• What the treatment options are for lumbar facet syndrome

Highlights

Lumbar facet syndrome is a common cause of lower back pain as a result of repetitive micro trauma leading to degeneration. People can experience acute episodes of facet syndrome as a result of poor lifting techniques, or movement, although there is often underlying degeneration already present. The condition can be managed effectively with conservative management which can effectively reduce symptoms. Some patients will benefit from long term management to maintain mobility within the involved joint structures, alongside exercise and education to improve posture and reduce the risk of acute events.

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