Our spine is a vital structure that allows us to stay upright and carry out our daily activities normally. However, when it is injured, whether due to age, wear and tear, or specific injuries, it can cause pain and significant limitations in our daily lives. For this reason, it is essential to take care of our back and be alert to any signs of discomfort to seek specialized medical attention as soon as possible.
What is facet syndrome?
Facet syndrome refers to a set of Symptoms associated with facet joint degeneration or injury, which are small joints located at the back of the spine that connect the vertebrae to each other.
These joints play a crucial role in spinal stability and mobility. When these joints become inflamed or worn out, they can cause back pain that can radiate to other areas, such as the buttocks or thighs.
Different types of facet syndrome
There are different types of facet syndrome that are mainly classified according to the location in the spine affected. Each type of facet syndrome presents specific symptoms and requires particular treatment approaches. to effectively address pain and improve the patient's quality of life.
The most common types of facet syndrome are:
- Lumbar Facet Syndrome: The most common symptoms include pain in the lower back that may radiate to the buttocks and thighs, stiffness, and difficulty moving.
- Cervical Facet Syndrome: Typical symptoms are pain in the neck, which may extend to the shoulders and arms, and limitation in neck mobility.
- Thoracic Facet Syndrome: Less common than the above, symptoms can include pain in the middle of the back and difficulty breathing deeply due to the pain.
Causes of facet joint syndrome
The causes of facet joint syndrome can vary and are usually related to wear, degeneration or injuries of these small joints located in the spine.
Between the main causes of facet syndrome stand out:
- Aging: Over time, facet joints can experience wear and tear due to the natural aging process, which can lead to inflammation and pain.
- Traumatic Injuries: Accidents, falls or sports injuries can cause direct damage to the facet joints, leading to inflammation and the development of facet symptoms.
- Repetitive Use Wear: Work or sports activities that involve repetitive movements of the spine can wear out the facet joints, increasing the risk of developing facet symptoms.
- Degenerative Conditions: Diseases such as osteoarthritis or spondylosis can affect the facet joints, causing inflammation, deterioration and pain.
- Genetic factors: Some people may have a genetic predisposition that makes them more susceptible to developing facet symptoms due to structural changes in the joints.
What are the symptoms of lumbar and cervical facet syndrome?
Facet syndrome can manifest itself in different regions of the spine, with the lumbar and cervical being the most common. Below, we describe the characteristic symptoms of each type:
As for the symptoms of Lumbar Facet Syndrome, they are:
- Pain in the back side of the back: This is the most common symptom and is usually located in the lumbar region. The pain may be constant or intermittent and may worsen with certain movements or postures.
- Radiating pain: Low back pain can radiate to the buttocks, thighs and even reach the knees, causing discomfort and limiting mobility.
- Lumbar stiffness: Back stiffness may be experienced, especially in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity.
On the other hand, the symptoms of Cervical Facet Syndrome are the following:
- Pain in the neck: The main symptom is pain located in the cervical region, which can be constant or appear intermittently.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders and arms: Cervical pain can radiate to the shoulders, arms and even reach the hands, causing discomfort and a sensation of tingling or numbness.
- Limitation in neck mobility: There may be difficulty moving the neck in all directions due to pain and stiffness.
Diagnosis and treatment for facet joint syndrome
He diagnosis of facet joint syndrome It begins with a detailed clinical evaluation by a spine specialist. During this evaluation, the doctor will ask questions about symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.
The most common diagnostic tests They include x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT), which can visualize the facet joints and detect any abnormalities or degeneration.
As for the facet joint syndrome treatment, it is aimed at relieving pain, improving the patient's function and quality of life. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying cause, different options may be considered:
- Conservative treatment: It includes measures such as rest, physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation, and pain management techniques such as facet infiltration with corticosteroids to relieve pain.
- Alternative therapies: Some patients may benefit from alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, or osteopathy to relieve pain and improve spinal mobility.
- Interventional Treatment: In more resistant cases, procedures such as facet radiofrequency can be considered, which consists of the application of controlled heat to the facet joints to interrupt the transmission of pain signals.
- Surgery: In severe cases and when other treatments have not provided relief, facet fusion surgery or facet joint denervation may be considered as a last resort to stabilize the spine and relieve pain.
How long does facet syndrome last?
Facet syndrome can vary in duration depending on the severity of symptoms, the type of treatment received, and the individual response of each patient. In general, Acute episodes of facet pain can last from weeks to months, while chronic symptoms can persist for longer if not treated properly.
Clinic in Madrid for treatment of facet joint syndrome
As leaders in the advanced treatment of facet joint syndrome, in ICAC, Advanced Institute of Spine and Endoscopy in Madrid, we have a team of internationally recognized doctors, spine experts, and we offer advanced surgery and endoscopy techniques to address this syndrome precisely and effectively.
At ICAC our specialists are committed to offering the best care to treat facet joint syndrome. We invite those who suffer from this injury to ask for a date with our team to start your treatment and recover the health of your spine as soon as possible.
6 thoughts on “Síndrome de la articulación facetaria: qué es, qué lo causa y cómo tratarlo”
Hello, I have a spinal problem, they did the MRI and this came out: Minimal pathological facet changes in L4 – L5 L5-S1 that does not cause foraminal stenosis, I lost mobility in my left leg and under my calf that part feels very hard and I always fall, I wanted to know if this is due to surgery or treatment, since I have had these discomforts for a long time.
Hello Mileidy,
We can't know without knowing your diagnosis and seeing the tests.
greetings
Good evening, my name is Francisco Rodríguez Muñoz, a specialist in the digestive system, now retired, and I would like your comment on my process, which, to summarise, could not be any other way, or by attending your consultation, which would be appropriate. Returning to the reason for my message, it is about a L5-S1 herniated disc diagnosed years ago with symptoms of lumbar pain with exercise, mainly on the right side, associated with paresthesia on the dorsal lateral side of the thigh and leg, radiating to fingers 3, 4 and 5, and I had a sciatic crisis approximately 2 or 3 years ago. Lately, after walking a moderate distance, I get paresthesia and functional impotence, which subside with rest, the symptoms cause me to fall. I await your response, thank you very much.
Hello Francisco,
We need more information to understand your clinical profile and to know what type of treatment can be performed in your case.
You can make an appointment at +34 91 005 39 00.
Greetings
evidence of fractures, lytic or blastic lesions, with rectification of the physiological lumbar lordosis.
Mild lumbar scoliosis with convexity to the right, whose apical vertebra is L4.
Lumbar vespondylosic osteochondrotic changes, with decreased height of the intervertebral disc spaces, finding diffuse posterior disc bulges that imprint on the anterior subarachnoid space.
Additionally, degenerative arthropathy changes are observed in the facet joints.
At the L4-L5 level, moderate stenosis of the canal is observed in the lateral recesses and moderate-severe stenosis of the left foraminal, as well as moderate stenosis of the right foraminal.
Moderate bilateral canal and foraminal stenosis at L3-L4 level.
The rest of the canal and the lumbar foramina have diameters within normal radiological limits.
Modic III type reactive changes (secondary sclerosis degenerative disc disease) in the vertebral endplates adjacent to the L4-L5 disc.
Arterial calcific atheromatosis.
Incidentally, marked arthritic changes are observed in the hip joints (Tönnis 2), with multiple subchondral geodes.
Convexity of the upper anterolateral margins of the junctions between the femoral heads and necks, predisposing to
CAM type femoroacetabular impaction.
Incidentally, mesenteric panniculitis is observed.
The rest of the examination showed no significant radiological alterations.
CONCLUSION:
- Lumbar osteochondrotic and spondylosic changes, with diffuse posterior disc bulging associated with degenerative arthropathy changes in the facet joints, producing moderate stenosis of the canal in the lateral recesses and moderate-severe foraminal on the left side, and moderate on the right side at the L4-L5 level, as well as moderate stenosis of the canal and bilateral foraminal at the L3-L4 level.
Hello Xavi,
To have your case reviewed by a specialist, you can make an appointment by calling 91 005 39 00.
Greetings