Facet Joint Injection for mid back

I have been on medicine for 7 months and finally have been recommended a facet joint injection. I would like to know if anyone has had these and if they help! I watched a diagram online and I am hopeful it will help the terrible pain I have in my mid back!!!! Thanks!

Hi, Rwolhar,
I meant to reply but I've been having some bad days. First, I'd encourage you to search older threads here in the chronic pain section. Facet joint injections are very similar to epidurals. I've had both. Unfortunately, neither helped. I've been through so many injections my head spins, but the one to my SI joint is the only one that helped. I've also had them in my hands for trigger fingers and those hurt way more than any of the spine injections.

I've never needed any sedation for any of my spinal injections, but the doctors have always used a local anesthetic first. And they were always using Xray (flouroscopic) guidance. They'd have to to find the right location. The injection site was a little sore for a couple of days, and I just used ice. When I was working, I actually went back to work the next day, but brought ice packs with me. I know a lot of others find them more painful. Also, some people have success with them. It all depends on whether that's where your pain ends up being located.

Remember mostly they're designed to work in a series of 2 or 3. When I had them for my trigger fingers, I had to go back every few months until I had the third injection. Then i never needed any more. I think that's how they're supposed to work in the ideal, so the first injection may not be a cure. Usually if the first two injections have no affect, they don't do anymore.

Some people do use IV sedation - depends also on the doctor. I always wanted to be able to walk out on my own. But if you tend toward panic, call your doctor's office and ask what the options are for you. As I said, I really never found them that bad at all. They're nothing compared to the pain we live with daily!

PaLady

I've had Iv sedation for all, but one series of injections (that one was heck!) anyways
long run most help I got from injections was for a brief 3 hour period and felt like I was in Heaven.
other than that it'sa procedure just used as a diagnositic tool, to see how or if the
injections work. PAlady gave ya wonderful advise, PAlady well wishes to ya!
soft hugz, nice to meet you sure wish it wasn't under this topic though (ment in a nice way)...

It will be up to your doctor. Usually they will encourage you to be more vigilant to see whether you still need to take as many pain meds as you did before the procedure. It would be very unusual, though not unheard of, for a PM to cut you off all meds before seeing whether or not the procedure holds.

Your back will probably still make those "popping sounds". Mine does. My doc said it's nothing to worry about. You can look it up on the Mayo Clinic site. They seem to agree that it's harmless & not a sign or cause of any problems.

If the muscle relaxants aren't really helping it would be good to get off of them. They can also cause dependency. Everyone's different, but for me those were worse to try to get off of than the narcs. I was so sick & miserable. Now I steer clear of them at all costs & just try to tough it out & do more PT. arrrgghhh! no fun at all, but come back here to the forum whenever you need to complain or are looking for support.

good luck with the injections!
frances

Thank U all! I am going to try to get Valium the day off and night before the needle so I don't head kick the nurse or spin kick to Doctor. I am very anxious to see what it does. I am tired of watching the clock and almost always knowing just from the pain that it is time for another pill. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Hi, Mistyblue,
Welcome to the HW chronic pain forum. I'm always sorry that there's another person with pain, but glad you found us. We're not doctors but there's great support and a wealth of information about all our experiences.

I would suggest you start a new thread of your own, maybe with radiofrequency in the title if that's what you're looking for right now. Then everyone can see you more easily, as everyone might not read this thread.

I had researched RF a couple of years ago, thinking it might be something I could consider. But none of the numerous injections I had in my spine ever dulled the pain for more than a brief time, which was probably nothing more than the local anthesthetic. The SI joint injection was the only one that worked, and I don't think they do RF there, although I'm not sure.

I also have sciatic pain, and numbness and tingling in both feet. Nothing has ever helped my feet except neurontin. I had a double lumbar fusion last year, which didn't help any of my symptoms. From what I know of RF, it's done when the source of your pain is located via a nerve block or epidural. Then the nerve can be injured (the specialist told me they no longer completely severe the nerve because people were getting phantom pain) so that it can no longer transmit pain signals. Nerves can regenerate in about two years, though, so RF's may not be permanent, but if they found the nerve that was causing the majority of your symptoms it might be worth it. But it doesn't sound like they've located the main source, so I'd have an awful lot of questions for my doctors about why they wanted to do the procedure if you haven't had adequate pain relief form the nerve blocks.

Start a new thread and I'm sure others will add their experienes. And again, welcome to the forum!

PaLady