How Are Facet Joint Injuries Treated?
In our previous article we discussed facet joint syndrome secondary to whiplash injuries from car accidents going underdiagnosed by doctors. The result is that injury accident victims suffer unnecessarily when treatment for the facet joint injury can be easily diagnosed via steroid injections. The next question, is how to treat facet joint injuries and provide the patient with pain relief. Unfortunately, treatment for primary facet pain is not as easy as a diagnosis. Options always include physical therapy for lumbar stabilization and strengthening. Intra-articular steroid injections can aid in recovery during the painful period. A patient with primary facet pain, prove with either one or more medial ranch blocks, may be a candidate for a facet rhizotomy using phenol or radiofrequency (RF). The patients selected for rhizotomy are those who are not surgical candidates and who have failed other conservative measures hearing. By using the radiofrequency rhizotomy, the surgeon denervates t
