1. < Spine Health

Facet Joint Injections - Anyone had success?

Posted by shellsk24 @shellsk24, Jun 20, 2016

I have just began a series of facet joint injections for chronic lower back pain, due to arthritis and degenerative spine disease. The injections start off small then they add more medication as we continue. I had the first injection 3 days ago. I was told it could take upto 5 days to start feeling the benefits of the injection. The injections (total 6 in L2-L6) hurt like heck, and I have not felt any change in my chronic pain as of yet which is quite depressing. I was so hopeful. I am told the first injection is with just a small amount of anti-inflammatory med, so it may or may not be sufficient. Has anyone else had these? If so what was your experience with the entire process? I'm just wondering if I should proceed.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Jen, Alumna Mentor | @sandytoes14 | Aug 12, 2016
In reply to @predictable "Hi @sandytoes14, I notice you have had problems in both lumbar and cervical regions of your..." + (show)
@predictable

Hi @sandytoes14, I notice you have had problems in both lumbar and cervical regions of your spine. I have a little information to add to your notes. On the lumbar issue, I had lower back pain for months; physical therapy only made it worse, because it wasn't a classical spinal problem; it turned out to be inflammation of the sacroiliac joint on one side of my pelvis. The diagnosis depended on a type facet injection into the inflamed joint; by stopping the pain for good, it proved that the inflammation diagnosis was correct. Within six weeks, carefully designed physical therapy treatments brought the pain to an end. It hasn't returned in four years.

On the cervical issue, a good friend in her early 50s had deteriorating discs in her C 5-6 vertebrae. Injections and blocks by pain specialists helped but not permanently. She decided to replace three damaged discs -- not fuse the vertebrae, but restore her previous flexible cervical spine. No such surgical procedure involving two or more discs was approved for performance in the US 7 years ago (it may not be even today). So she went to Germany for two weeks and had the surgeons there insert artificial discs. She met several other Americans who were there for the same operation. I have communicated with one of them over the years since. She and my friend both returned to full physicality without pain of any significance -- one back to playing semi-professional hockey, the other running and playing golf regularly. The fantastic thing was that my friend's surgery involve incisions to approach the spine from the front of her throat. Miraculously, in my view, there was no damage to nerves or blood vessels, which was crucial since she is an accomplished singer who could have lost her voice for good. She didn't, and she continues as the leader of her church choir and a primary soprano in a regional professional choir.

Jump to this post

Thanks for that info @predictable . I'm going to Ortho Spine at the Naval hospital on Monday to see what his views are for me.

REPLY
kajensen | @kajensen | Aug 13, 2016

oh wow I'm going to be starting the facet injections I was just told that's what I have after more than 2 years of being in pain all the time and it seemed the doctors didn't believe me until I told them I can't or won't live like this anymore, crying cause I have so much pain can't sleep and hard to work cause in pain just not a quality of life now they believe me

REPLY
1 reply
leh09 | @leh09 | Aug 13, 2016

I've had a little relief in my neck after facet injections. It takes about two weeks for the steroids to really start working.

REPLY
deefl | @deefl | Aug 14, 2016
In reply to @shellsk24 "Had my second round of facet injections last week. It's been 5 days and still no..." + (show)
@shellsk24

Had my second round of facet injections last week. It's been 5 days and still no relief. I guess its safe to say I was not a good candidate for the injections. Continuing with the injections after 2 rounds with no relief seems pointless, not to mention costly. Glad to know it worked for others though. 🙂

Jump to this post

Hi shells24 I do not feel there is any down side to the patch. I use a special tape to hold it down on the edges as I have had it lift up.
I am also on opioid medication too because the pain is pretty intense without it as well.
I do not feel I am an addict but do require more sleep with this much medication. Each person is different and their
reaction will be different as you know. If you are on, or will be on pills one day, you can cut them so you are not getting
so much medication. You can not cut the patch. What I like about the patch is you have a steady stream of medication
as opposed to a pill that seems to end abruptly and then you need to take more to get relief. I am covered both ways.

REPLY
deefl | @deefl | Aug 14, 2016
In reply to @kajensen "oh wow I'm going to be starting the facet injections I was just told that's what..." + (show)
@kajensen

oh wow I'm going to be starting the facet injections I was just told that's what I have after more than 2 years of being in pain all the time and it seemed the doctors didn't believe me until I told them I can't or won't live like this anymore, crying cause I have so much pain can't sleep and hard to work cause in pain just not a quality of life now they believe me

Jump to this post

Hi:
I Hope the injections work for you. It is due to insurance that the doctors often start with that. If you do not get relief, then consider
ovoid medication. Many are afraid they will become drug addicts, but that is not the case. Pills can be cut on the score line. Or, cut
again if the pill is large enough. I am also on a pain patch which I like because it delivers medication in a continuous stream
That could be years away. Doctors are slow to respond from my experiences and that can be many years of pain.

REPLY
deefl | @deefl | Aug 14, 2016

Hi: Give the injections a chance, and if it is not working in a time period you and your doctor feel is reasonable, perhaps you can try a pain patch or
Opioid medication. I am on both a pain patch and opioid medication. I am getting great relief for my spinal conditions. Working for me for years and I
am pleased with the results. I require more rest/sleep due to the medication.

REPLY
shellsk24 | @shellsk24 | Aug 15, 2016
In reply to @sandytoes14 "Hello, I have had facet injections and medial branch blocks done on C 4-7 without any..." + (show)
@sandytoes14

Hello, I have had facet injections and medial branch blocks done on C 4-7 without any success. I did have cervical (spine) epidurals for over a 4 year period that worked well. The pain in my neck was greatly reduced. In my lumbar spine, I had RFA, radio frequency ablation done and that was very successful.

Jump to this post

Hi @sandytoes14
Thanks for the information. I am due to have the RFA in a few weeks. I'm hoping I get some kind of relief. It is mind blowing that nothing is seeming to help. Fingers crossed!

REPLY
shellsk24 | @shellsk24 | Aug 24, 2016

For those that are on the patch and the pill, are you still able to work and function with other daily activities, or does it take away all of your energy? I am currently on opoid medication, but am considering inquiring with my doctor about the patch. Just wondering if I am able to work full time, otherwise I won't bother. @deefl

REPLY
1 reply
Jen, Alumna Mentor | @sandytoes14 | Aug 25, 2016

@shellsk24 I had no problems functioning on the patch and if I had to take a breakthrough pain pill. I actually had a better quality of life as I was able to get around much better without the level 9-10 pain. With the Fentanyl patch, it was on for 72 hours before switching to a new one. The release was not sudden as in pills. Best of luck and keep us posted!

REPLY
19lin | @19lin | Aug 26, 2016
In reply to @shellsk24 "For those that are on the patch and the pill, are you still able to work..." + (show)
@shellsk24

For those that are on the patch and the pill, are you still able to work and function with other daily activities, or does it take away all of your energy? I am currently on opoid medication, but am considering inquiring with my doctor about the patch. Just wondering if I am able to work full time, otherwise I won't bother. @deefl

Jump to this post

shellsk24, I use a pain patch which I like much better than any pill. It works better giving even distribution of medication and it is out of sight, there is no taking pills in the middle of the work day. It just depends on what you want and working with your doctor. 19lin

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.