Facet Joint Injections
Overview
The facet joints, found on both sides of the back of the spine, can become painfully irritated or inflamed. A facet joint injection may help diagnose the source of a patient’s pain. It can also relieve pain and inflammation.
Skin Numbed
In preparation for the procedure, the physician numbs the skin and tissue above the facet joint with an injection of local anesthetic.
Placement Confirmed
With the aid of an x-ray device called a fluoroscope, the physician guides a needle through the numbed tissue and into the facet joint. Contrast dye is injected into the joint to confirm the needle’s placement.
Medication Injected
Once the needle is positioned properly, the physician injects a soothing mixture of numbing anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid medication. One or more facet joints may be treated. If this causes the pain to subside, it suggests that the facet joint (or joints) injected were the cause of pain.
End of Procedure
Back or neck pain may disappear immediately after a successful injection because of the anesthetic that is administered. As this anesthetic wears off, pain may return. The steroid will begin to take effect in the days after the injection. The steroid will reduce inflammation and pain. The injection can provide relief for a span ranging from several days to several months. Up to three injections may be given per year.
What Our Patients are Saying
Dr. Muhammad was professional, knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely care about finding a solution to my pain problem.
Dr. Rasheed has been a wonderful doctor so far. He’s very professional and confident. He has had a ton if ideas for us to try, which is completely different from my last pain mgt. doc. So far, he’s been everything I could have asked in a pain mgt. doctor.
I love Dr. Abdelfattah! He is an amazing doctor. He has an excellent beside manner, and her Is very interested and concerned about his patients, and their diagnosis, and he is able to empathize with his patients. He is very skilled at preforming minimally invasive procedures that can really reduce pain. He is NOT a pill mill, but he is NOT scared to prescribe what the patient may need to be comfortable and to reduce pain. As far as I can tell the Pain Management Clinic is in full compliance with the State medical board’s guidelines on Pain Management Clinics. I would send anyone who is seeking relief from their pain to him because he is going to do his very best to find out what is causing the pain, and the best way to treat it. Truly an AWESOME doctor!!! I nominate him as a TOP DOCTOR!!! Being a healthcare professional I know a good physician when I see one and this one is it!!!!
Staff was amazing, tell you what they think and give you options and really wants to know the underlined cause before they do anything. I think that’s awesome and will recommend to anyone!!!
Everyone was so nice. Dr. Zhao explained things to me in a way I could understand everything. She had a smile on her face the whole time. It was like she was happy to see me. I really liked how the appointment turned out.
Dr. Syed listens to me & gives me hope for conquering this constant pain of neuropathy. He is open to new methods of treating my constant pain.
Super place, super doctors. Took the time to explain everything to me.