 |
|
Facet Joint Surgery
Facet joint surgery is a treatment reserved for severe chronic
facet joint syndrome
symptoms. Facet syndrome is a degenerative condition which affects the spinal
facet joints.
Facet syndrome is a controversial diagnosis, since many doctors consider it a normal and universal part of the aging process. The majority of patients with facet joint degeneration are completely asymptomatic, while other patients develop pain due to their facet joint changes or symptoms mistakenly blamed on their facet joint changes.
Facet Joint Surgery Procedures
Back surgery
for facet joint problems is not common. Severe cases of
facet joint pain
are sometimes treated with a
laminectomy
and often, an add on
foraminotomy.
These procedures are typically very invasive and will force the patient to endure a long and painful
recovery
period. Extreme cases of facet joint syndrome are sometimes treated with
spinal fusion surgery.
This is perhaps the most invasive of all spinal surgeries. All efforts should be taken to bypass any surgery for facet joint pain and spinal fusion should be avoided at all costs, except in the most dire of scenarios.
Alternatives to Facet Joint Syndrome Surgery
Most patients with confirmed facet joint pain can be successfully treatment non-surgically. Even those stubborn
facet joint symptoms
which resist conservative treatment can usually be alleviated with either
epidural injections
spinal decompression
or a minimally invasive procedure, such as
facet rhizotomy.
Remember that physical back pain usually responds well to appropriate medical treatment. Symptoms that remain unresolved despite many varied therapy attempts might be the result of a
psychosomatic back pain
condition. In order to cover this possibility, a comprehensive
knowledge therapy
program should be included into the patient’s
back care
regimen.
Recommendation on Facet Joint Surgery
Although surgery is not used as often for facet joint pain as for some other spinal conditions, it is still prescribed for some patients. Before even considering surgery, a patient should completely exhaust all conservative therapy options. Spinal decompression is one of the newer options to relieve facet joint pain. Although results are not as good as pain relief due to disc problems, spinal decompression is still relatively effective and is non-invasive. If surgery is the right treatment for your facet syndrome symptoms, make sure to find an experienced surgeon who has demonstrated good operative results. Like all things in life, surgeons are not created equal, and if you must endure a surgical procedure, be sure to hire the very best you can find.
Facet Joint Surgery to Back Pain Home
10/1/08 Revised 10/16/09
|
|
|
