Facet Injections

The facet joints are located in the back of the vertebral (spinal) column where one vertebra connects to another. These joints can become irritated and inflamed causing more focal back pain. This type of joint pain responds to anti-inflammatory medications which can be injected directly into the joint. The procedure is performed at an outpatient medical clinic using fluoroscopy (real time x-ray) to verify accuracy of needle placement and a contrast dye to verify medication distribution. The medication used is typically a combination of an anesthetic (temporary pain medication) and a corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory). You may be offered a mild sedative, but it is not necessary. You should begin to get relief about three to five days after the procedure.