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Your spine is a sophisticated and hyper-futuristic system on its own. It helps you stand upright, bend, twist, turn, move, and do everything else you have ever done while awake and at rest. The spine is made up of bones stacked over each other with a joint called a “facet.” This is where two vertebrae join, and it executes superior control over the spine’s movement, stability, and functionality.
However, irritated facet joints can cause pain, which is often the first sign of conditions such as Facet Joint Arthropathy (FA). FA is closely related to arthritis, but there’s more to it. Here’s an extract you can read to know the causes and management of FA in a quite understandable manner.
A spine has 33 vertebrae spread across its length stacked on top of each other like a Lego set. These vertebrae are designed to allow for stability, range of motion, exercising motion constraints, and mechanical and other functionalities. The place where two vertebrae join is called a “facet joint.” These joints are located at the posterior section of the spine and work with the intervertebral disc in the anterior section to align the spine and provide the intended range of motion.
Facet joints have two sets i.e. superior articular facet and inferior articular facet depending upon its orientation i.e. upwards and downwards. Depending upon the type of vertebrae – cervical, lumbar, and thoracic, these joints may appear different w.r.t. their angles, orientation, position, etc.
Facet joints are cushioned with synovial membrane, synovial fluid, and hyaline cartilages each with a distinct function to perform. The synovial fluid or lubricating fluid is lined with the smooth cartilage allowing the spine to function with less friction.
Facet Joint Arthropathy (FA) is an arthritic condition that arises as the facet joints begin to disintegrate or there’s no lubricating fluid in-between. Aging can cause wear and tear to the joints causing thinning of smooth cartilage between the joints. As the damage continues, it reaches a stage where there’s no lubricating fluid left that results in increased friction.
Surge in friction causes stiffness, intense pain, and limits the movements of the joints to a great extent. It can also cause formation of bone spurs leading to arthritis of the spine which is a painful condition that can prove fatal as it presses on the spinal cord and nerve roots causing a cascading effect on affected regions that usually includes muscle spasms, numbness, and pain.
Pain is the most common symptom of FA. It occurs when the affected region swells up, restricting mobility. It usually affects the lower back, often resulting in a dull ache when bending backward, twisting, or standing. The pain can be intermittent, occurring a few times a month or year.
The pain associated with FA is localized to one specific section of the spine and doesn’t transcend to the lower extremities such as in the case of Sciatica. However, enlarged joints due to bone spurs and arthritis can press on the nerve roots pushing the pain to the lower limbs. Perhaps, bending forward can relieve you from the pain for a short duration. It is because doing so puts you into a spinal flexion position reducing the load and pressure it has to endure.
FA is considered a common cause of neck and back pain in older adults. It is often one of the signs of underlying arthritis. The condition could develop because of small undiagnosed fractures, hemorrhage, cartilage splitting, or disc tears that often put pressure on the nerve roots that trigger the pain in the affected region.
Some other causes that experts have come across are dysfunctional or damaged spinal discs. Facet damage has been spotted in cases with disc damage such as loss of disc height or wear and tear contributing to the stress on the joints.
Osteoarthritis can lead to lumbar facet pain. Inflamed or distended synovial capsules placed between the facet joints can lead to excessive pressure on the spinal nerves. There are other factors involved too such as poor posture, obesity, repetitive stress on the affected joints, etc., all contribute to the worsening of FA.
As in the case of the majority of spine-related issues, your doctor will begin by examining you, recording your symptoms, and taking your medical history. X-rays, CTs, and MRIs are a few imaging tests that can help diagnose facet arthropathy. Diagnostic medial branch block is another surefire way to diagnose facet arthropathy.
The imaging tests can reveal more about the facet joints, damage, and how the body is recouping from the same, which is enough to give the doctor a proper diagnosis and the treatment that will be followed for improvement in the condition.
The first course of action to treat Facet Arthropathy is using the least invasive and non-surgical methods.
Take Ample Rest: The first thing you could do or your doctor would advise is to take ample rest. Limiting movements can help prevent pain from flaring up. Resting is crucial as it helps in the healing process.
Physical Therapy: Certain movements are designed to enhance range of motion, strength, and flexibility of the affected muscles. It also helps patients rewire their brains and instill positive reinforcement of what they can do to improve their health.
Facet joint arthropathy is often caused by lifestyle, family history, poor posture, inadequate nutrition, and underlying conditions, which may result in pain and inflammation in the back that may radiate to the lower limbs. Educating yourself about such a condition is crucial as it helps you make better decisions.
Dealing with pain and inflammation due to any underlying spine-related condition requires a lot of patience and a professional’s help. At QI Spine, we’ve helped thousands of patients reclaim their healthy, pain-free lives. Book an appointment at 086558 85566 to learn more.
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