What To Do If the Facet Joint Injections Does Not Show Any Difference?

If you are undergoing severe pain and you’ve tried injections, as well, your medical practitioner might advise you to try facet joint injections.

Facet blocks help with back pain and neck pain. General wear and tear, sickness, or injuries might be the major cause of the discomfort in the neck or back. This discomfort usually shows up from a facet joint problem or a problem in the nearby region of the spinal cord.

The medical practitioners will generally suggest non-surgical therapies for chronic back pain initially before surgical treatment options. In case the patient is yet to feel discomfort following six weeks of conventional treatments, facet joint injections might be prescribed.

About Facet Joints and Facet Joint Injections

Facet joints are also called “Z-joints,” are tiny joints that run along every side of the spinal cord. They work as a connector between the bones of the spinal cord. These are made of ligaments and cartilage bounded by a synovial fluid-filled pouch. The Z-joints support the vertebrae and help the spinal cord bend and twist.

The fluid inside these joints can dissolve after some time, which makes the joints firmer and more prone to damage. While Z-joints become inflamed, they can put a strain on nearby nerves and develop into a source of significant soreness.

Those undergoing facet joint syndrome, arthritis, etc., can get well from facet injections in Chicago. These injections can be a secure and efficient way to cure chronic back pain. But some don’t get relief and might find themselves asking the question “what to do now.”

What If These Injections Do Not Work?

The bad news is that some patients fail to get relief from facet joint injections. These are the reasons why these injections do not work: wrong diagnosis and treatment of the wrong joint.

Pain or discomfort because of an issue with one or many facet joints can, at times, be difficult to identify which joint is the cause of the problem. If you do not get any relief from the facet joint injections, you can go for the following treatment options:

1. Physical therapy
2. Epidural Steroid Injections
3. Lifestyle changes
4. Chiropractic care
5. Surgery

Final Words

What are the results of facet joint injections? Some patients might feel instant relief, while some might witness a reduction in discomfort after 1 or 2 days after getting the facet blocks. Also, there are instances where it might take up to a week to obtain relief.