Facet Joint Injections
These injections are prescribed by your doctor when
other treatments have not satisfactorily controlled
your back or neck pain. A local anesthetic is used to
numb the skin and muscles, and then you will receive
4-6 injections of medication. X-ray and iodine dye are
used to ensure correct needle placement. Two medications
are given, a steroid anti-inflammatory medication and
a local anesthetic. This is not surgery, and no tissue
is removed. These injections may be repeated up to three
times per year if necessary.
Purpose:
Facet injections are meant to help you tolerate your
prescribed exercise program by relieving pain. They
anesthetize or "block" joints of the spine
that transmit pain. Injections alone will not "cure"
your condition, and their effect will be temporary if
not done with your exercise program.
Complications:
The only common complications of this procedure are:
If you have diabetes mellitus, it may raise your blood
sugar. If you have high blood pressure, it may raise
your blood pressure. Fainting, sweating, and nausea
during the procedure occur in some people as a reaction
to needles or the thought of needles.
Please notify your doctor if you are on blood thinners
such as coumadin, if you are allergic to local anesthetics
or iodine, or if you have any heart problems. Other
complications are extremely rare. If you have any questions
or other special circumstances, please bring them to
your doctor's attention.
What to expect after the injections
The area injected may feel numb or even slightly irritated
immediately after the injection. Any numbness you feel
will "wear off" in 6-8 hours. The steroid
medication will not begin to act until two days later.
Please follow the post-injection instructions carefully
to minimize discomfort for the next several days. Once
the steroids have taken effect, they last about two
weeks. Use this precious time to aggressively pursue
your prescribed exercise program. Make sure you see
your doctor approximately two weeks after the injections.
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