Each spinal segment has a pair of facet joints that connect each vertebra. The scientific term for the joints is the zygapophyseal joints. They are synovial – important because they allow movement between the joints and this allows the spine to twist and move in different directions. In the lower back and neck, these joints are highly mobile and are sometimes under prolonged periods of stress and strain. Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver treats facet joint impingements frequently and the recovery is quite fast if treated early on.
Due to the stress and mobility associated with everyday activities, it’s these joints that are more susceptible to injury over time. These facet joints, although small, are interlaced with many different spinal nerves. It’s for this reason that any problems with them can feel painful, especially in the lower back and neck. The pain is usually described as sharp and pinching.
A facet impingement is another name for the “pinching” of the nerves between the vertebrae. This usually happens when the facet joints are misaligned, inflamed, swollen, or irritated. This can happen for a variety of reasons.
What do facet joints do?
Facet joints are important in allowing full movement of the spine, particularly for twisting movements and forward bending. They also protect the more delicate intervertebral discs from damage. They essentially act like ‘hinges” of a spinal joint. Nature has designed these joints to allow for specific movements in a multitude of directions. Sometimes whether it’s because of a fall, a prolonged bad posture, muscle spasms or generally just falling asleep in a bad position, these facet joints can get misalign and irritated. The results are pain and immobility in that joint.
In the lower back, or lumbar, facet joints take much of the weight the spine as it’s a load-bearing portion of the spine. They absorb forces as you are sitting, standing, and even when you are walking, running, or biking. Facet joints are also great support for spinal movements – they stop vertebrae from causing damage to the surrounding spinal structure, including the nerves and the discs.
Because the lower back and neck are responsible for most of the mobility and function of the spine, whether you’re lying down or playing a sport, the facet joints here are far more susceptible to damage and general wear and tear.
What causes facet joint pain?
Two common factors cause facet joint impingement and the resulting pain. Depending on where they are located in the body, facet joints are subjected to all kinds of movement and weight-bearing rotations. However, the exact causes can usually be narrowed down to:
- Poor posture or generally poor body mechanics. Sitting at a desk too long, incorrectly carrying heavy objects, not stretching or preparing the body for activity, and even sleeping in an awkward position.
- As you get older the spine does begin to degenerate. The various discs and the cushioning between them can become thin, inflamed, or otherwise damaged. Facet joints are also affected.
In a wider sense, facet joint impingement or pain can also be caused by trauma, such as whiplash. Heavy-contact sports and repetitive loading of the back and neck might also lead to problems with the lower back and neck facet joints.
What Are The Symptoms Of Facet Syndrome or Impingement? Advice From Your Chiropractor in West Vancouver
Knowing when to visit your chiropractor or doctor about back pain is often difficult to judge. Although the lumbar and neck region is the area where facet joint pain is most likely to occur, it can happen anywhere along your spine, including the middle back.
The pain will be felt directly over the affected area. Depending on which facet joint is affected, the pain might also refer to other surrounding parts of the joint. Most of the time, the pain is sharp and pinching. It’s pain that is focused on one area of the spine. If you get a facet impingement in the neck, it could travel up to your head and give you headaches as well. Sometimes the surrounding muscles and ligaments will also feel sore thus making you feel pain and discomfort over a general area instead of a pin-point part of the spine.
Diagnosing Facet Joint Impingement and Related Symptoms
Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver will begin with a physical exam and a look into a patient’s spine health history. He’ll likely ask a patient if they remember a moment when the pain got worse – this is to check for a trigger moment, either an activity (or lack of activity) that may have led to problems with the facet joints.
Usually, a thorough physical exam will reveal the exact location of the dysfunctional facet joint. Other possible causes of joint pain will also need to be ruled out to come up with a proper working diagnosis. Immobility, guarding and tenderness in the joint are also clues to a facet joint impingement. However, it takes a trained professional like our Chiropractor in West Vancouver to truly make the correct diagnosis before a treatment plan can be initiated.
Treating Facet Joint Pain
Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment might consist of posture correction, massage therapy, and specific manipulation of the facet joint. These treatments are often paired with anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the pain and swelling in the area if needed. However, for almost all correctly treated facet impingement, the pain and immobility will be completely resolved within a few hours or days, and no medication is required.
Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver will probably require you to come back for a follow-up visit just to make sure that you are now feeling better and that the impingement has been resolved. Because the symptoms and causes vary so much from case to case, it’s a good idea to get a professional opinion based on your specific condition.
Facet Joint Impingement can be an infuriating condition that causes mild to severe pain. If you start experiencing a similar type of symptoms its best so seek a diagnosis and a treatment from our West Vancouver Chiropractor right away.
