How is Facet Arthropathy Diagnosed?
X-rays, CAT scans, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be used to help diagnose facet arthropathy. However, x-rays, CT scan and MRI cannot tell whether a facet joint is painful or not. The best way to diagnose whether the joint is painful is to perform a diagnostic procedure. This involves placing the needle next to the nerve that goes into the joint. By placing a small amount of anesthetic on the nerve, the joint is anesthetized for three or four hours, similar to having a tooth numbed in the dentist’s office. If the patient experiences significant decrease in pain for several hours after the injection, then one can assume that the facet’s are a significant source of the pain and that treating the joints may lead to significant, long-term pain relief. How is Facet Arthropathy Treated Conservatively? Initially the doctor may recommend a period of rest in an effort to tame the symptoms. Sleep positions which take pressure off facet joints may be recommended (i.e. curl up to sleep o
