What is Facet Syndrome?
Facet syndrome describes problems that occur in the facet joints of the lumbar or cervical spine. Typically, these facet joints are responsible for enabling movement, but when this condition develops, the cartilage that coats the facet joints wear away, causing bone-on-bone contact. This can cause various symptoms, such as pain associated with movements like bending, twisting, and bearing heavy loads, as well as tingling, numbness, and weakness in the extremities.
If you are suffering from this condition, you must speak with your doctor immediately to develop a treatment plan that works best for you. They may first suggest conservative treatments like pain medication, chiropractic care, anti-inflammatories, anti-spasm medication, and physical therapy. However, if several weeks or months of these treatments do not provide adequate relief, ask your doctor about facet syndrome surgery.
Questions You May Want to Ask Before Surgery
Before facet syndrome surgery, be sure to learn about your condition and what a surgical procedure entails by asking the following questions:
- How severe is facet syndrome?
- What is the cause of my condition?
- Where is the location of my condition?
- Are there any activities that could worsen my condition?
- Are there any conservative treatments left to try before surgery?
- What surgical procedure would you recommend?
- What is facet syndrome surgery like?
- What are the risks associated with this surgery?
- Is there anything I should do to prepare for my procedure?
- How soon can I expect to recover from this procedure?
Surgery at BEST Health System
BEST Health System is a spine and orthopaedic ambulatory facility. We believe in helping our patients find the most effective, least invasive treatment option. If you have been struggling with facet syndrome pain, get the help you deserve today. Learn more about treatment with BEST Health System today.
