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Facet injections for degenerative disc disease
After many years working as an RN, on my feet a lot, also lifting and moving patients, I have diffuse degenerative disc disease. Most of the time, I am able to do things to manage my condition and the associated discomfort, but every so often things flare up and the pain gets worse. I have been going to PT and doing exercises etc at home, but this time conservative measures aren't helping very much. My pain management doctor has suggested doing injections into the facet joints of the spine. He feels this will work better than an epidural injection. I would appreciate hearing from anyone out there who has been treated with facet injections.
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Extremely helpful. My doctor does two injections that cover L5 through S1 and he spreads the medication so it covers my facet joints on both sides. I just wish it would last longer than 2 months.
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2 Reactions@longhauler64
Thanks for responding. That sounds encouraging.
Have found facet injections helpful. The Lumbar Spine is the area that has been injected. Fortunately the relief lasts, sometimes one is all that is needed, others once every two years. Good Luck, hope you find relief!!
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1 Reactionnot sure how this would help as the facet joints are what helps to move..Injections, like an ablation are usually given for facet joint arthritis. Ask you doc how this would help degenerative disc disease.
AI Overview Facet joint injections for degenerative disc disease deliver an anti-inflammatory steroid and a numbing agent directly into the small joints of the spine (facet joints). This reduces joint swelling and blocks pain signals. It provides targeted relief, improves mobility, and helps pinpoint the exact source of your discomfort.
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1 ReactionHow quickly do you feel the relief?
I have degenerative scoliosis and spinal stenosis. Can I assume that these injections will help with them too?
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1 ReactionI dealt with significant cervical spinal issues for several years and treatment, before fusion, included spinal injections. At first, they provided several months of pain relief. After 5 or six rounds, they only lasted for days. That’s when the neurosurgeon decided we had one option left.
That said, a friend had a similar condition and his physical therapist recommended exercises to realign his cervical spine through, what’s called, turtle tucks. It’s an exercise where you try to push or hold your head back while tucking your chin in and down. He avoided fusion surgery.
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1 Reaction@djgranrath Maximum of three a year is allowed .
Check side effects of bone deterioration from more than that.
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2 ReactionsI have had injections that are very helpful as I stated in a prior post. I see someone mentioned ablation. Would that work better for a longer period of time? I know that the nerves grow back, but if t could get that once a year vs 3 injections that's seems like a better solution. I'm trying to avoid another multilevel fusion as I have already had 2 lumbar and one cervical. Thank you.
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