Facet Joint Injection

Facet joints are numerous, with two at each spinal level. These small, delicate joints provide stability and help guide motion. They are prone to injury, deterioration, and inflammation, and they sometimes become sources for chronic neck and back pain. A cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), or lumbar (lower back) facet joint injection involves injecting an anti-inflammatory medication, such as a steroid, which can numb the facet joints and block the pain. If multiple levels of pain exist within the facets, several injections can be performed to pinpoint the source of pain in each location