Chiropractic Awareness Month
What is chiropractic?
Facet Joint Syndrome and Chiropractic Treatment
Facet Joint Pain – What It Is and How We Can Help
Chiropractic care is a highly effective way to treat facet joint syndrome—also called facet sprain or simply facet pain. It’s one of the most common causes of back pain we treat in our clinics.
Understanding Facet Joints
Facet joints (or zygapophyseal joints) are located at the back of the spine. Each spinal level has two—one on each side. Like other joints in your body, such as the ankle, they are synovial joints. This means they have a joint capsule, contain fluid, and are lined with smooth cartilage for easy movement.
Their job is to guide and limit spinal movement, especially when you twist or lean back. They also help keep the spine stable.
Why Facet Joint Injuries Happen
Think of your spine as a chain of small joints supported by muscles and ligaments. When some joints become stiff—due to injury, ageing, or wear—others must move more. This extra strain can lead to overuse injuries and joint sprains.
Most facet injuries develop over time from repeated micro-trauma. Simple actions, such as bending to pick up a pen or twisting slightly, can suddenly trigger pain after building up for months or years.
Another cause is meniscoid entrapment—when a small piece of joint tissue gets caught between the joint surfaces. This can cause sudden, sharp pain. In many cases, targeted chiropractic adjustments can relieve it immediately.
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Facet Joint Pain Symptoms
Symptoms of Facet Joint Pain
Facet joint pain often presents with clear, localized signs:
Pain on one side of the spine, slightly off-center
Pain that may spread into the buttock, groin, or thigh
Morning stiffness or stiffness after sitting for long periods
Sharp pain with certain movements, such as twisting or leaning back
Tenderness over the affected joints
Limited range of motion due to discomfort
If the neck is affected, pain may travel to the shoulder, arm, or upper back.
If the mid-back is affected, pain can spread along the rib cage.
Rare but Serious Symptoms
In uncommon cases, nerve irritation can cause:
Numbness
Pins and needles
Pain radiating down the arms or legs
These signs may point to a more advanced issue, such as lateral dynamic stenosis or disc involvement.
Chiropractic Treatment for Facet Joint Syndrome
Early treatment is key. Chiropractors use manual adjustments, soft tissue work, and gentle mobilization techniques—not on the injured joint but around it to reduce pain and spasms.
You will also get advice on:
Comfortable positions for sleeping or sitting
Safe ways to move and bend
Exercises to restore movement and prevent flare-ups
Most acute cases improve within 4–6 visits. If symptoms are more chronic or degenerative, treatment may take longer and focus more on long-term management.
What About Medication?
Some patients find painkillers and NSAIDs helpful in severe cases. However, many report little to no relief. National guidelines discourage long-term NSAID use, injections, or surgery unless absolutely necessary.
Why Does Facet Joint Pain Come Back?
Recurring pain usually points to functional instability. When a joint is sprained, scar tissue forms as part of healing. This tissue is weaker and less flexible, making the area more prone to future injury.
Spinal injuries can also weaken deep stabilizing muscles, even after the pain goes away. Without the right rehab, this muscle weakness leaves you vulnerable to repeat episodes.
How to Prevent Recurring Facet Joint Pain
The best way to prevent recurrence is by combining chiropractic care with:
Targeted core strengthening exercises
Movement education
Just resting or taking painkillers doesn’t address the real issue. Each flare-up increases your risk of future problems. Research shows that after four episodes, the chance of developing chronic pain rises sharply.
Risk Factors for Facet Joint Pain
You may be more prone to facet joint issues if you:
Have poor core strength
Sit for long periods or have poor posture
Have had back pain before
Are physically inactive
Experience pain for more than 8 days
What Should You Do?
Get your back properly assessed by a chiropractor. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, you can regain comfort and reduce the risk of the pain returning.
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