Facet Injections - Back Problems Message Board

Moopy · 06-23-2006, 01:47 PM

Has anybody any experience of facet injections? My boyfriend has been suffering with lower back pain and the MRI scan shows several things wrong with his back, including a herniated disk. The consultant has said to try the facet injection and if that doesn't work then he will try surgery.

How effective are these facet injections? My boyfriend is currently waiting for his on the NHS - he does a physical job and is unable to work fully at the moment, as a result his employers are looking at getting rid of him!

Regards
Claire

kera4 · 06-23-2006, 02:29 PM

Dear claire, I had success with the facet shots. If they work but do not last too long, he can be qualified to have the facet pain nerves lesioned. This is called radio frequency lesioning, and it really worked for me. It usually lasts from 6-12 months. When you have a bulging/herniated disc (I have at L5/S1) the facet joints try to compensate, then they start to hurt and fill with fluid. The shots should help if the facets are where the majority of the pain is coming from. Good luck! Kera4

PhilT · 06-27-2006, 02:06 PM

I had Facet Injections a couple months ago. I am suffering from a herniated disck between L5 - S1 and Pars Defect. Doctor said it would stop the pain for several years, but it only lasted a week. Definitely worth trying before surgery though since each person usually responds differently to these things.

mmusilli · 06-27-2006, 03:12 PM

The facet injections can help if the facet joint is the source of pain. But if the herniated disc is the source of pain, then I dont think the facet injection will do much... It could be that both are a source of pain, so perhaps, the pain will be reduced... I herniated a disc and they gave me 2 cortizone shots on the nerves that were being compressed by the herniation, and that did seem to help me to the point that it bought me time to heal on my own, and do physical therapy, etc... It isnt a cure... It can just buy you time to heal.. Also, it can help determine the cause of your pain.. If it is the facet, then they can kill the facet nerve (RF lesioning). This is still not permanent, but much more lasting.. (6-8 months I was told)

Maurice

kera4 · 06-27-2006, 06:40 PM

Hi! I agree with Maurice-the tricky part is figuring out if the pain is mainly coming from the bulging/herniated disc, or from the facet joints. Really, they have to do shots near the disc and see if that brings pain relief. If not, then try shooting the facet joints. Or vica versa. In my case I went through a series of 3 shots near the bulging disc with minimal pain relief. That is when we went to facet shots, which brought more relief. When my facets were RF lesioned I got about 6 months relief, the shots got me a couple weeks pain relief only. Take care and good luck! Kera4