facets

[slydog]

my doctor has diagnosed my problem as having a problem with arthritis in the facet joints in my lower back and has recommended burning the nerves into that are behind the joints.Does this eliminate the lower back problem or cause another problem? I am suffering pretty badly with back pain. I have had steroid injections in the facets twice,the first time helped a little,the next time did not help at all.What are the risks with this procedure?

[aml74]

mri and xray

[aml74]

I had a facets done on either side of my neck in the 4,5, 6 area.  I had a neck fusion 10/2008.  It is the vertebrae about it that has become irritated. also some bone has grown over the plate. the procedure was done this past Friday.  I had relief Friday and Saturday.  Yesterday morning I woke up with a major headache.  I took tylenol to help control it.  I have had a headache to today, just not as tense.  I have talked to the Orthopedic staff and they are thinking I needed further treatment..  Is doing the facets just masking what really is going on?  The next step is Rhizotomy.  I wonder how long of a solution that would be for me.  What is the long term prognosis.

[JainMD]

Hi,
How are you feeling?
Low back pain is one the most common musculoskeletal condition, is responsible for the loss of 17 million work days per year in the United States and ~$60 billion of the annual U.S. health care budget.
Back pain, which affects the bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles of the back, is a symptom that occurs primarily in middle-aged adults, but it also may occur in children and adolescents.
He diagnosed you with arthritis in facet joints, was it clinically or was it with the help of some imaging study?
You can refer to following url for further information.
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/facetjoint/facetjoint01.html
If you still have any questions, keep me informed.
Bye.