Facet injections are usually beneficial for many of those who receive them. However, there are certain conditions a patient should be aware of, and it is always good to ask questions at the pain management Scottsdale clinic before a treatment.

Depending on the number of vertebrae involved, facet injections may require more than one doctor’s visit. Usually, a doctor will only address three to four joints in one session. If both sides of the neck or back are to be injected, only one side is typically done per visit. The reason is to minimize the exposure to steroid medication per procedure.

There are pain management doctors in Arizona who inject non-steroidal medication, but it has not been shown to provide the same duration of pain relief as steroid. This is why cortisone medications have remained the gold standard in pain injections for decades.

The Days Following Facet Injections

Following the facet injections, patients may experience some pain related to their session. In the few hours following the injections, the pain may lessen or appear to be gone, but that is only because of the anesthetic used. The pain may return initially as the numbing medicine wears off within a day, and then the steroid medication will “kick in” and provide pain relief within a few days.

It is best if a patient takes it easy for a couple of days after facet injections, and it may prove beneficial to apply ice to the areas addressed in the procedure as soon as possible afterwards. Going back to work the next day is generally okay if the job is not too physical. Most of the time, there will be some soreness the following day or two.

The long lasting beneficial part of facet injections comes from the steroids, and they begin to work within two days in most situations. The pain relieving effects of these can be from only a few days to several months.

Call (602) 507-6550 for scheduling with the preferred pain center in Arizona… Arizona Pain.

The Next Step after Facet Injections

While facet injections do give relief for pain, their primary purpose is to diagnose and confirm that the right joint or group of joints is the cause of the chronic pain. If most or all of the pain disappears while the steroids are effective, it is a good indication that the treatment addressed the problem.

Doctors typically recommend a facet rhizotomy later once the problem areas are known. This is also called a radiofrequency ablation, radiofrequency neurotomy, or radiofrequency lesioning. While facet injections are good temporal relief from pain, the facet rhizotomy will alleviate the pain for a much longer period. Often for over a year. This technique addresses the nerve branch that goes to the facet joint or joints where the pain originates. The process involves heating or burning the nerve branch, which will effectively stop the pain for a long time.

Some people prefer to have facet injections repeatedly rather than going to facet rhizotomy. Most often people who have a long period of relief are the ones who choose to do this, but this is not commonplace.

For those individuals who are suffering from back or neck pain, facet injections may help tremendously. They are the number one procedure in pain management today. Arizona Pain has several clinics throughout the Phoenix and Scottsdale metropolitan area with Board Certified AZ and Phoenix pain doctors.

All major insurance is accepted along with Workers Compensation and personal injury liens. Self pay is accepted as well. Call (602) 507-6550 for scheduling.