Facet joints are small joints in the spine that connect the bones and allow the back to bend and twist. They can develop pain due to inflammation from injuries or chronic conditions such as arthritis. Facet joints are thought to be the culprits in up to 41%1 of low back pain.
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic pain in the neck or back. These injections may decrease pain and help restore mobility and can be used to treat cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint pain.
If you are considering a facet joint injection to treat pain, you may be wondering how long they last. The guide below provides more information on how long facet blocks may last and the factors that can affect them.
How Long Do Facet Joint Injections Last?
It is impossible to predict precisely how long a facet injection will last.
As with any treatment or procedure, people may respond differently. However, some research2 indicates that facet joint injections effectively relieve pain for at least three months.
The facet injection works by administering numbing medicine, a local anesthetic that reduces pain, and steroid medication to decrease inflammation. Usually, the steroid takes up to a week to reduce inflammation. However, it is possible to have increased pain after the local anesthetic wears off and before the steroids kick in.
.png)
What Factors Affect How Long Facet Joint Injections Last?
Various factors may affect how long a facet block injection lasts, including the following:
The Extent of Inflammation
The extent of inflammation and degeneration of the facet joints may vary depending on the condition. This may impact how long the facet block lasts. For instance, people with advanced facet joint damage may have significant facet joint pain and have shorter-lasting relief than someone with less degeneration.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle may also affect the length of time facet joint injections last. These lifestyle factors include your weight, physical activity level, and posture. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying reasonably active, and practicing good posture and ergonomic habits may prolong the benefits of a facet block.
Individual Response
Everyone’s body may respond differently to facet joint injections. For example, some people may not respond as well to the steroid medication and only have short-term pain relief of a few weeks. However, other people may receive prolonged pain relief after only one injection. It is not possible to predict what an individual’s response will be.
Can You Have Multiple Facet Joint Injections?
Additional injections are possible if a facet joint injection provides short-term relief for a reasonable amount of time.
Generally, an individual can have up to three3 facet injections a year. Depending on your response to the first injection, your doctor may recommend one to three injections.
However, some people opt for different treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency ablation disrupts the messages from the small medial branch nerves, which are responsible for sending the pain signals from the facet joints. If facet injections or radiofrequency ablations do not give satisfactory intermediate term relief, your doctor may recommend more advanced treatment options such minimally invasive spine procedures or in the most severe cases, spinal surgery.
Follow-Up Care and Recovery After a Facet Joint Injection
Immediately after the injection, you are observed in the procedure room for some time to ensure you are not experiencing any complications from the injection or IV sedation. Most patients are discharged within an hour.
As you recover, you may feel soreness at the injection site. Usually, applying ice or a cold pack to the area is helpful. Over-the-counter painkillers such as Tylenol or NSAIDs are acceptable if you do not have any contraindications to them. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medication for a few days after the injection, but this is not typical.
During recovery, avoiding driving and performing strenuous activities for about 24 hours after the injection is recommended.
In some cases, your back or neck pain may increase as the local anesthetic wears off before the steroid takes effect. This is normal. However, if the pain worsens, it is essential to notify your doctor.
You may be instructed to participate in physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of your back or neck. Strengthening the muscles helps improve joint stability and may reduce further injury.
You will have a follow-up appointment to check your response to the procedure. Depending on your response and reduction in symptoms, your doctor may suggest additional treatment. In some cases, the next step may be a radiofrequency ablation.
Summary
A facet joint injection is an option to provide pain relief for facet joint pain. It is significantly less invasive than spinal surgery, and simply put is a type of injection. This amounts to less risk of complications.
It is not possible to predict an individual response to the procedure. However, studies show that facet blocks may reduce pain for several months.
It is vital for patients to openly communicate with their doctor about the duration and extent of pain relief after facet blocks. This information can help guide your treatment plan and provide the best possible outcome to provide long-term pain relief.
If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation, please contact us today!
References
- Curtis, L., Shah, N., & Padalia, D. (2023, January 9). Facet Joint Disease. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541049/
- Al-Najjim M, Shah R, Rahuma M, Gabbar OA. Lumbar facet joint injection in treating low back pain: Radiofrequency denervation versus SHAM procedure. Systematic review. J Orthop. 2017 Oct 27;15(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2017.10.001. PMID: 29167604; PMCID: PMC5686472.
- RSNA, A. (2023). Facet Joint Block. Radiologyinfo.org. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/facet-joint-block
- Log in to post comments