Along that back portion of your vertebrae sit your spinal facet joints, and they help to provide stability and motion to the spinal column. Very little motion takes place between individual facet joint segments, but when the joints in the column work in unison, you’ll be able to twist and bend your spine in all directions.
However, if a problem develops in one or more of these facet joints, not only will movement be restricted, but it can also be painful. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what happens when issues develop in the facet joints located in the cervical portion of your spine, and how Dr. Sinicropi and his team can help you treat the problem.
Understanding Cervical Facet Joint Disease
Facet joint disease is the term for an injury to one or more facet joints along the spinal column, and cervical facet joint disease occurs when the issue develops in the top portion of your spinal column. If a facet joint becomes injured, inflamed, irritated or begins to show signs of wear and tear or deterioration, you’ll begin to experience symptoms consistent with cervical facet joint disease. We touched on a couple of the symptoms above, but some of the most common symptoms involve:
- Pain
- Pain with movement
- Range of motion restrictions
- Tenderness
- Numbness
Direct trauma to the neck or back can damage the facet joints, but in older populations it tends to be more common as a result of natural wear and tear. Like any joint, your facet joints can wear down after decades of stress, and this natural degeneration can lead to less fluid movement and more discomfort at a specific facet joint. Some also experience facet joint disease as a result of an issue with a nearby spinal disc. If a vertebral disc is damaged or loses its natural height, the facet joint will have less room to move, which can cause deterioration within the joint itself.
Treating Cervical Facet Joint Disease
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, consider setting up an appointment with your primary care physician or a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. They’ll begin by asking you about your symptoms, conducting a physical exam and having you perform some light movement exercises with your head and neck. From there, they may work to confirm a diagnosis with the help of an imaging test like an X-ray or MRI.
If cervical facet joint disease is diagnosed, your doctor will start by walking you through some common non-operative techniques. Most mild and moderate cases of cervical facet joint disease resolve or become manageable without the need for surgery so long as you commit to a conservative care plan. Oftentimes non-operative cervical facet joint disease management involves a combination of rest, physical therapy, gentle exercise, controlled stretching, anti-inflammatory medications and posture improvements. Over the course of a number of weeks, many patients find that their symptoms shrink or fully resolve when pursuing a conservative care plan.
Don’t feel like you’re forced to live with dull pain or a chronic ache in your neck region. While some joint degeneration is natural, painful symptoms are not normal, and Dr. Sinicropi and his team will be more than happy to help you find a way to manage your condition. For more information, or for help with a different back or neck issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
