Lumbar Facet Disease Symptoms and Potential Treatments

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Lumbar Facet Disease Symptoms and Potential Treatments

Lumbar facet disease is a condition that causes the breakdown of the facet joints in the lower back. The facet joints link the spine’s vertebrae to one another and allow for flexing, twisting and bending. As facet disease advances, the cartilage that allows the joints to slide smoothly into different positions wears away and the bones grind against each other as the spine moves. In severe cases, the facet bone can also deteriorate. The results of facet cartilage and bone deterioration are painful symptoms, including irritation, swelling, stiffness, reduced range of motion and muscle spasms. On occasion, a patient with lumbar facet disease will also feel these symptoms in the backs of their legs and buttocks.

These signs of facet disease can be mistaken for symptoms of other conditions, including:

Herniated discs
Torn muscles
Stress fractures
Abdominal disorders

Because of this similarity in symptoms, it is important to visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis. If you are truly suffering with lumbar facet disease, there are several treatments that may be effective. Over-the-counter pain medications can often help, as can low-impact exercises that gently stretch the back like yoga or swimming. Some patients may also have success with massage, chiropractic care, braces and other methods. For a small percentage of sufferers, an invasive technique will be needed to relieve symptoms. At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), we use our state-of-the-art endoscopic technology to bring relief to facet disease patients without causing excessive stress to the body. Our facet thermal ablation procedure uses a laser to gently clean damaged facet tissue from the joint while deadening nearby irritated nerves. The result is vastly reduced symptoms with a relatively quick recovery.

If you’d like to learn more about this lumbar facet disease procedure, contact LSI today. We’ll review your MRI or CT scan free of charge.

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