Are you experiencing back pain, particularly when bending or rotating? Often this pain is likely caused by facet joints that have become subluxated and, as such, irritated the spinal root nerve at that segment.
With facet joint pain or facet syndrome, you may be suffering from back or neck pain that radiates from the spine out to the extremities, such as the hands, pelvis, legs or feet. About 1/4 of the population has reported suffering from this condition, so you are not alone.
At Elia Chiropractic, we treat facet syndrome with every person’s presentation in mind and tailor our management plan to you to provide maximum pain relief and improve your spinal health. Speak to one of our chiropractors today to see how we can help you!
What is Facet Syndrome?
The facet joints are the small joints found on either side of each spinal segment, which join each vertebra to the one above and below.
Micro traumas, such as poor posture, sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time or high-impact activities done incorrectly (poor exercise movement patterns), over time, can lead to degenerated facet joints and then facet syndrome.
The facet joints have a layer of cartilage that protects them from damage and provides lubrication for movements, which can become worn down or deteriorate, which can cause inflammation and nerve irritation. When nerves become irritated, this is where your pain may radiate away from the spine and into the extremities, including hands and feet.
What Causes Facet Joint Pain?
A build-up of micro traumas can cause facet joint pain and degeneration over time in the spine or occur acutely after certain movements, in particular, bending, twisting, jaw pain and lifting.
Activities that we commonly see cause this pain are:
- Picking up children
- Lifting heavy objects
- incorrectly
- Deadlifting
- Car accidents resulting in whiplash
How can we help at Elia Chiro?
Chiropractors look in depth at the movement in your spine and where there are restrictions and subluxations. The only way we can effectively improve the motion within your facet joints is through chiropractic adjustments and mobilisation of the joints.
When we adjust your spine, we reintroduce the joint’s full anatomical range of motion, reducing the pressure on the affected facet joints and improving their signal.
Your spine is used daily and undergoes stress with every movement you make. To maintain a healthy spine, it is essential to routinely have your spine assessed and adjusted to maintain function and
improve the nervous flow in the body.
Treatment may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments of the spine
- Massage and trigger point therapy to release the surrounding tight
muscles - Exercise: the chiropractor will recommend a specific exercise plan for you to strengthen and support your back and spine
- Heat or cold therapy for pain management
Treating facet joint dysfunction early on is important to prevent further degeneration and chronic symptoms. Locate us here.
