Introduction

The spine’s primary function is to make sure that the body is moving, twisting, turning, and bending at any angle without any pain. When the spine gets injured in an accident or a back muscle is pulled, it can cause the spinal discs in the spine to become herniated or develop degenerative disorders like DDD (degenerative disc disease) that can cause a person to be in pain. Other back pain issues that can cause a person to be in pain include sciatica, chronic back pain, leg pain, and the inability to move or stand for long periods. When many individuals suffer from back pain, it can cause them to lose their quality of life and make them feel miserable. Luckily there are ways to treat back pain, and that is through non-surgical decompression therapy. In this article, we will be looking at facet syndrome and its symptoms and how decompression can alleviate pain associated facet syndrome. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

 

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Facet Syndrome?

As previous articles mentioned, many individuals have back pain is common worldwide and is one of the most expensive conditions to be treated for. This is due to many individuals straining their back by lifting heavy objects, or their spinal disc is deteriorating due to aging naturally. When the spinal disc starts to lose its function naturally, the outer barrier of the spinal disc begins to become hard. It becomes compressed, losing its soft sponge-like texture, causing the inner walls of the spinal disc to push through the compressed outer layers and become herniated. Facet syndrome is another back pain issue that many individuals tend to suffer due to natural aging. Research studies have stated that facet syndrome is a condition where the spine’s joints start to degenerate and become a source of pain. Facet syndrome can be caused when the joints from the spine begin to get inflamed and degenerate, causing many other back pain disorders to rise like spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis all over the body.

 

Other research studies have shown that facet syndrome is the source of chronic spinal pain that can be unilateral or bilateral back pain radiating from one or both buttocks, the sides of the groin, and the thighs, and just stopping at the knees. Facet syndrome can also mimic any excruciating pain that is caused by herniated discs or compressed nerve roots on the spine. 

 

Facet Syndrome Symptoms

Since facet syndrome is the most common cause of low back pain, research studies have shown that local aches often characterize facet syndrome to some degree of stiffness on the spinal joints. The pain from facet syndrome usually ranges from a dull ache to sharp shooting pain that causes the person to be unable to function. Some of the signs and symptoms caused by facet syndrome are similar to other back pains. They occur together and cause overlap, making the diagnosis challenging for health practitioners. The signs and symptoms of facet syndrome usually depend on the severity and involvement of a nearby nerve root which can cause:

• Low back pain
• Facet arthritis
• Sciatica
• Tenderness on palpation
• Causing painful effects on posture and activity
• Stiffness
• Crepitus

 

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Decompression Therapy Effectiveness For Facet Syndrome-Video

The video above shows how the DRX9000 decompression machine treats facet syndrome. Research studies have shown that facet syndrome is caused by degeneration of the spinal joints due to repetitive overuse and everyday activities that cause microinstability and compress the surrounding nerve roots. When this happens, it can cause excruciating back pain to the individual. With the DRX9000 decompression machine, many individuals will begin to feel relief from facet syndrome. As part of spinal decompression therapy, the DRX9000 decompression machine gently stretches the spine to release the compressed spinal discs and allow the beneficial nutrients and oxygen back into the spine. Many individuals with low back pain begin to feel relief by utilizing decompression therapy as part of their wellness journey. If you want to learn more about spinal decompression therapy, this link will explain the benefits of spinal decompression and how it can alleviate low back pain symptoms.

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Decompression Therapy For Facet Syndrome

 

Decompression therapy is utilized for individuals suffering from low back pain and facet syndrome. As research studies have shown, the effectiveness of decompression therapy can help individuals with facet syndrome by improving their mobility and activities of daily living and reducing their pain after treatment. Decompression therapy can also help individuals reposition the herniated discs back into the spine and can cause the spinal joints to increase in height. Other research studies have shown that since facet syndrome is the cause of low back pain, radiculopathy, and neurological deficits due to being close to the adjacent nerve root, decompression therapy can gently stretch the compressed nerve root and cause instant relief to the individual. When individuals combine decompression therapy with physical therapy, it will reduce the chances of painful symptoms coming back.

 

Conclusion

Therefore, facet syndrome is one of the common causes of low back pain that causes degeneration of the spinal joints. Facet syndrome is also one of the sources of pain and can mimic other painful back symptoms that can overlap, affect the nearest nerve root, and be hard to diagnose. All is not lost as decompression therapy is used as a non-surgical option to relieve back pain issues by gently stretching the spinal disc, joints, and ligaments to relieve the pressure it was under. Decompression therapy has helped reduce many chronic back issues that many individuals have suffered by allowing the nutrients to go back to the spine. With the combination of physical therapy, many individuals who utilize decompression therapy as part of their wellness journey will become pain-free over time.

 

References

Alexander, Christopher E, et al. “Lumbosacral Facet Syndrome – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 12 Feb. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441906/.

Curtis, Lindsay, et al. “Facet Joint Disease – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 15 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541049/.

Gose, E E, et al. “Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy for Pain Associated with Herniated or Degenerated Discs or Facet Syndrome: An Outcome Study.” Neurological Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 1998, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9583577/.

Parker, Larry. “Symptoms and Diagnosis of Facet Joint Disorders.” Spine, Spine-Health, 24 June 2020, www.spine-health.com/conditions/arthritis/symptoms-and-diagnosis-facet-joint-disorders.

Perolat, Romain, et al. “Facet Joint Syndrome: From Diagnosis to Interventional Management.” Insights into Imaging, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6206372/.

Sagoo, Navraj S, et al. “Lumbar Facet Joint Cyst Treated with Decompression and Interlaminar Stabilization.” Cureus, Cureus, 25 July 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7445097/.

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