Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injections diagnose and treat back and neck pain from small spinal joints. Learn details with Dr. Saleh Atiyah.

Facet joint injections are interventional procedures targeting the small joints on either side of the spine that connect vertebrae and control spinal movement. Local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory are injected into the joint or near its supplying nerve.

Simply put, the spine contains small joints that allow movement and bending. With aging or injuries, these joints may become inflamed and cause back or neck pain. Facet joint injections deliver medication directly to these joints to reduce inflammation and pain.

The joint itself can be injected directly, or the nerve supplying the joint can be injected, known as medial branch block. Medial branch blocks are more common and are used as a diagnostic step before radiofrequency ablation.