What Is a Facet Joint?
A Facet Joint is a small connection between the bones at the back of the spine. Each joint helps guide spinal movement and adds stability. A facet joint has cartilage and a capsule that can contain pain-sensing nerves. Pain from these joints may occur in the neck or lower back. For more detail, see Medial Branch Block vs Facet Joint Injection for Facet Pain.
Quick Facts About Facet Joint
Category
Spinal joint
Used for
Guiding spinal movement
Common confusion
Not a spinal disc
Also called
Zygapophyseal Joint
Often discussed with
Facet Joint Injection, Medial Branch Block
Key Takeaways About Facet Joint
- Facet joints sit between the back parts of nearby spinal bones.
- Their nerves can help identify a spinal pain source.
- Facet joints are not the same as spinal discs.
How Facet Joint Works
A facet joint connects the back portions of nearby spinal bones. Its smooth surfaces help the spine bend and turn. A joint capsule surrounds the connection, and small nerves carry pain signals from the area.
Related glossary terms: Joint Capsule, Lumbar Spine, Cervical Spine.
Facet joint pain may be checked through a facet joint injection. During this service, a clinician places medicine near the joint with image guidance. The response can help show whether that joint contributes to the pain. A related structure called the medial branch nerve carries signals from some facet joints.
Facet Joint Injection
A facet joint injection places medicine near a selected spinal joint. The injection may serve as a diagnostic step, a treatment step, or both, depending on the clinical plan.
From the Premier Injury Specialists team
When we assess a facet joint, we review the pain pattern, examination findings, and available images. We connect those findings with the planned Facet Joint Injection and note how symptoms respond afterward. This approach helps us judge whether the joint matches the suspected pain source.
Facet Joint in Practice: A Real-World Example
A person with lower back pain may have symptoms that increase during certain bending or turning movements. During a Facet Joint Injection, the clinician targets the suspected joint and records the person's response.
Related Terms
Joint Capsule
A joint capsule is a tough sleeve of connective tissue that surrounds a movable joint. The…
Lumbar Spine
Lumbar Spine is the lower section of the backbone between the chest and pelvis. It contains…
Cervical Spine
Cervical Spine is the upper section of the spinal column in your neck. It supports the…
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy is a live X-ray imaging method that shows moving body structures on a screen. A…
Premier Injury Specialists
Have Questions About Facet Joint?
Contact Premier Injury Specialists for practical guidance on Facet Joint and related pain management physician work in Stonecrest.