Back pain can be caused by degenerative changes and inflammation in the facet joints which is commonly referred to as a Facet Joint Syndrome. The spine is made up of individual vertebral bodies which are stacked one on top of another. On each side of the vertebral bodies are tiny joints called facet joints. Their primary role is to allow the spine to move and make twisting and bending movements. They also keep the individual vertebras from moving too far forward or twisting without limits.  Most facet joint-related pain is seen among individuals over the age of 60 secondary to osteoarthritis. It is, however, not uncommon for younger very active individuals to experience the same pain after engaging for several years in exercises that put lots of stress on the facet joints.

Symptoms

When the facet joints become inflamed because of injury or arthritis, they will generate pain. Acute presentation of facet joint pain may resemble those caused by a herniated disc and at this stage it may be difficult to differentiate between these two. In most case the individual can pinpoint the area of pain indicating involved facet joint. At time, however, the person may experience diffused poorly localized pain in the lower back, hips, and buttocks on both sides. Most patients presenting with pain due to facet joint inflammation have difficulty bending backward which may help to establish the diagnosis. In some cases, the facet joint pain may project pain down to the legs and mimic the sciatic pain. Unlike sciatica, where the pain may project all the way down to the feet, facet joint pain usually terminates at the level of the knees. Only in rare cases the pain may project all the way down to the feet. This is usually seen when osteophyte is causing pressure on the nerve root.

Causes

The major cause for the development of facet joint syndrome appears to be osteoarthritis of the facet joints. Osteoarthritis is generally a consequence of wear and tear. It is characterized by narrowing of joint spaces, loss of joint cartilage and local joint inflammation. This process is similar to the more familiar knee osteoarthritis which is a well-known cause of knee pain among the elderly population. It has been shown that younger individuals suffering from facet joint syndrome tend to have history of strenuous jobs prior to the age of 20 which puts them at high risk for early osteoarthritis of the facet joints.

Diagnosis & Treatment guidelines

Inflammation of the facet joints is generally not well diagnosed by MRI or X-Rays. There is also a poor correlation between the findings on the images, physical exam by the provider and the symptoms that the patient experiences. In most cases injection of an anesthetic medication into the vicinity of the painful facet joint can help to make the diagnosis. If the patient experiences immediate pain relief after the injection, the condition can be diagnosed as facet joint syndrome and steroid injections can then be administered to decrease the local inflammation. The steroid injections are usually administered by pain specialists under fluoroscopy which helps to guide the needle placement. The patient may receive these injections every 3-6 months based on the duration of symptoms relief.

Acupuncture treatment can also be beneficial since needling the musculature in the affected area can improve local blood circulation and decrease the inflammation and muscle tension. Referral to physical therapy to learn appropriate core strengthening and stretching exercise is important in long term management and prevention of further exacerbation.

Avoiding activities that put undue stress on the spine is as important, if not the most important aspect of any long term management of facet joint syndrome. No treatment will be effective if these perpetuating factors are not effectively addressed and appropriate modifications incorporated into daily lifestyle.