Treatments

Facet blocks

Facet joints can be a major source of neck, mid back, low back pain, and sacroiliac pain. The joints are located in the posterior part of the spine and, in health, allow motion without pain. With injury, they can become painful. The diagnosis is established by blocking the nerve supply to the joint, and if a second injection to the same area is successful in relieving pain to minimize the chance of a placebo response, the diagnosis is confirmed. Facet joint injections with corticosteroid often provide excellent short-term relief to allow a return to activity, including physical therapy. Radiofrequency Neurotomy (Ablation) is an evidence-based treatment for facet joint pain. An emerging treatment includes platelet-rich plasma injection to the facet joint to treat the source of pain.