Back Pain From Facet Joints Explained

Dr. Michael Sein, physiatrist and interventional pain specialist at Weill Cornell Medical Center, explains what the facet joints (aka zygopophyseal joints) are, how they can cause low back pain and neck pain, and what you can do about it!

In this video we cover:
The basics of what facet joints are and why they can be painful and develop arthritis.

The pattern of pain usually associated with facet joints.

We talk about the benefits of rehabilitation, exercise, and core strength for this type of pain.

We cover some of the common medications we use to help augment the rehabilitation process.

We talk about medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation, and how these two procedures can be beneficial for patients with this type of pain.

We cover the red flags of low back pain that should alert patients to call their doctors or even go to the ER.

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to learn more about your health!
Visit our site for more resources to help you Conquer Your Pain:

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Please make sure to consult your physician regarding your medical issues. Also, immediately call 911 if you think you may be having a medical emergency.

[ahmedabbas]

music is too loud it makes your voice sounds as a background to the music while it should be the other way around. advice: skip the music, we can listen to music in music channels, we are here for the info not the music.

[AZ-dokr]

The music make me in more pain thank you guys

[kerens]

The background music is so loud that it's difficult to hear your important voices :(

[SportbikeUnitedRiderz]

This procedure is 1000% heaven sent for me. I usually have it done every 7 months or so. Completely takes the pain away. Had it on on L3, 4, 5 back area..

[suewolmarans]

This is the best explanation that I have heard for me to understand it. Its a pity that you aren't posting anymore videos? I would have like to learn more about the Ablation or Rhizotomy procedure...

[kevinsub]

What a tune !! I cant stop dancing with my facet joint pain !!

[stephanM]

Watching this video with the annoying music in the background is like laying on a bed of nails while reading a book.

[michaelharrington]

Would stem cells in the facet joints L5-S1 fix this problem? RF ablations are temporary and only put a bandaid on a wound.

[mugesUSA]

The music is louder than your words guys😜

[philpolzin]

A little background music, BFD, get over it and quit whinning about it. These 2 Docs know their stuff and if you've truly had facet joint pain you'd listen in a wind tunnel if you had to. I have had this affliction progressively alter my lifestyle now for about a year. I have just about convinced myself to go ahead with the steroid/synoviol fluid injections, hoping it will permit me to return to a somewhat normal mode of living. Thanks Docs for the info. I did clarify a number of facts for me.

[judy]

ok, beside the music, what about details of causes other than wear and tear? One day my back was fine, the next day I'm immobilized with facet syndrome. Something doesn't connect for me in the progression of this condition.

[sukhendu]

DEAR SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUST YOU TO UPLOAD DETAIL VEDIO OF ROOT CAUSE / IMBALANCE OF SWAY BACK POSTURE, SYMPTOMS & EXERCISE TO BE DONE TO GET RID OF SWAY BACK POSTURE. I HAVE STUDIED SWAY BACK DEFORMITIES IN ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICAL ASSESMENT BY DAVID. J MAGEE BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND BY COMMON PEOPLE LIKE US.

[lynettelaroche]

I just had facet injections with nerve numbing today again! I also get cortisone steroid injections as well but don’t really help me. My dr said he’s gonna check on me in 2 days to see if pain is better, same or worse. If not better he will cauterize my nerves😩Scary but what side effects will I experience with that? I hear you can be in more pain for up to 3 weeks? Is that true?

[bunny]

Do we really need the music .... gave up trying to hear what was being said.

[taslimaakhter]

Thanks for explaining. Please l am suffering from facet arthropathy. Please show some exercise about facet arthropathy.

[brodygoalie]

Can massage therapist help with facet joint pain. My L4 L5 area is my issue. I do get cortisone shots in that area every two years due to cortisone wearing off. So can a massage therapist help with facet joint pain? Thank you

[mattmatt]

I have a lower back pain when standing up from a sitting position. It usually takes a minute or two to walk it out. Does this look like a facet joint problem or it's something else ?

[Sanguinarya]

Omg cut the music please!!! I want to hear what they're saying!!!

[lightofbabylon]

Can facet arthropathy cause burning and cause pain severe enough to trigger tachypnea?

[ManishPrajapati-sbge]

I was diagnosed with suspicious par stress fracture at L5 on right side according to my lumber MRI REPORTS. After 3 months of rest it is healed completely according to my current lumber ct scan reports. Overall reports are normal including all the disc height, canal, as well as no facet joint arthopathy is not there. But the problem now is that i have right side lower back pain when i over extend my spine. (while doing any bodybuilding back muscle posing ) specially it feels like the pain is in the bone or joint. Please help sir i am very much tensed about it. I used to do bodybuilding and want to continue with it 🙏🏻
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One thing i would like to mention is that the pain was gone after 3 month of inactivity at my lower back but i did extreme yoga streching and after than i am experiencing lower back pain again on my right side while extension but also i did my lumber ct scan after this only. So no abnormalities revealed please do reply 🙏🏻