Facet joint syndrome is pain located at the joints between two vertebrae in your spine. Facet joints are what makes your back flexible and helps enable you to bend and twist. Healthy facet joints contain cartilage and are shaped differently, which keeps your vertebrae moving smoothly with no grinding joints. When facet joints become swollen or inflamed, it is called facet joint syndrome. If you’re looking for someone to treat your face joint syndrome, Connetquot Chiropractic can help you today!
Causes of Facet Syndrome
Causes of facet joint syndrome can stem from trauma, such as whiplash or other neck injuries. Aging is also a common cause of facet syndrome, because as you get older, the discs degenerate, narrowing the cartilage and space between the vertebrate. When the cartilage gets too narrow, it places too much pressure on the facet joints and the cartilage begins to wear away.
Treatment
Chiropractic treatments are proven to reduce pain and discomfort caused by facet syndrome. Chiropractors know what will help restore your mobility and flexibility, while also ensuring you experience the most pain relief possible. After talking with our chiropractor, they may recommend taking some diagnostic tests such as X-rays or MRI’s. These tests can confirm facet syndrome and can allow your chiropractor to discuss the correct treatment methods.
Spinal manipulation is a common treatment for facet syndrome. Spinal manipulation involves applying a controlled amount of force on the facet joint with the goal of reducing pain. Minor side effects include discomfort in the pressured area, which is known to go away in one to two days.
Correct posture is crucial for spinal health and your body’s wellness. A chiropractor will recommend proper exercises that you can do in your home that will correct and re-train your body to hold better posture. Chiropractors can give you important and valuable advice on how you can limit your facet pain.
Routine changes are commonly suggested to relieve vertebrae pressure. Some examples include taking breaks from your desk if you sit all day, or try to avoid taking long car rides to limit pressures on your lower back. You may find that there are some activities you are not able to do until your back heals.
Heat or cooling therapy such as heat wraps or ice packs can be used by a chiropractor to control pain. Heat pads control muscle spasms in the neck and back while increasing mobility in joints. Cold therapy pads can reduce sharp pains and decrease inflammation on joints.
If you have any other questions about how visiting a chiropractor can reduce pain caused by facet syndrome, contact Connetquot Chiropractic with any questions or concerns.