Spire Parkway Hospital performs 200 facet joint injections annually to help alleviate back pain. Injections are administered in theatre by Dr Duncan, consultant anaesthetist, who specialises in pain management.
What's involved?
The facet joints link together the bones in the back. They help to stabilise the spine and control the degree of movement. With age, they are prone to injury and deterioration and are a common cause of lower back pain, especially the type that is worse while sitting and improved by walking.
During a facet joint injection, a steroid medicine (which reduces inflammation) or a combination of a steroid and a local anaesthetic is injected into the joint. This can help to treat the pain, inflammation and any restriction of movement caused by the deterioration.
Facet joint injections are usually performed as an out-patient or day-case procedure.