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BACK PAIN CONDITIONS

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INJECTIONS FOR BACK PAIN

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SURGICAL PROCEDURES

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ANATOMY OF THE BACK

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PATIENT RESOURCES

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Facet Rhizotomy

The facet joints are often the primary source of pain for many back pain sufferers. Facet joints are small joints located in pairs on the back of the spine that provide stability to the spine and allow the spine to move and be flexible.

facets

Depending on where the problematic facet joints are located, they can cause pain in the mid-back, ribs, chest (thoracic facet joints), lower back, abdomen, buttocks, groin, or legs (lumbar facet joints), neck, shoulders, and even headaches (cervical facet joints).

Facet joint injections of steroid medications are often given to patients with this type of pain. The injections not only provide pain relief, but they can also help the physician pinpoint exactly where the pain originates and can confirm or reject the facet joints as the source of the pain. For many patients, facet joint injections provide adequate relief. For others, however, the pain relief is too short-lived. For these patients, facet rhizotomy (also called radiofrequency rhizotomy) may be the answer.

What Is Facet Rhizotomy?

The goal of a facet rhizotomy, either a cervical facet rhizotomy or lumbar facet rhizotomy, is to provide pain relief by "shutting off" the pain signals that the joints send to the brain. The pain relief experienced by most patients who have this procedure lasts months or even years.

How Facet Rhizotomy Is Done

Patients who are candidates for rhizotomy typically have undergone several facet joint injections to verify the source and exact location of their pain. Using a local anesthetic and x-ray guidance, a needle with an electrode at the tip is placed alongside the small nerves to the facet joint. The electrode is then heated, with a technology called radiofrequency, to deaden these nerves that carry pain signals to the brain.

Serious complications with facet rhizotomies are rare. A new technique using pulsed radiofrequency does not actually burn the nerve, but appears to stun the nerve. This technique appears to be even safer than the regular radiofrequency technique, but does seem to have the drawback of not lasting quite as long. Some specialists (such as the author) prefer to use the pulsed technique in higher risk areas such as the neck.

The procedure takes about 30-60 minutes. Afterwards, patients are monitored for a short time before being released.

What to Expect with Facet Rhizotomy

Very little preparation is required for a facet rhizotomy procedure:

Your physician will give you detailed instructions about whether you can eat before the procedure.
In most cases, you can continue to take your usual medications before a rhizotomy. However, make sure you discuss what medications you use with your physician before the procedure.
Since a rhizotomy requires the use of a local anesthetic, you may need someone to drive you home after the procedure.

Once you are ready, you will be given an IV with a mild sedative to keep you comfortable but awake during the procedure. A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area where the injection is to be done. An x-ray machine is then used to guide the exact placement of the needle/electrode. Once the needle is injected, a mild electrical current is used to stimulate the nerve and confirm its exact location. You may feel slight pressure or tingling during this part of the procedure. Then the electrode is heated to deaden the sensory nerves. When the procedure is completed, the needle is removed and the injection site is bandaged.

After the Procedure

Some initial discomfort may be experienced immediately after the procedure, including bruising, soreness, or swelling at the injection site. However, most patients are able to return to work and their normal daily activities the following day.

Also, your back may be sore for a few days after the procedure. This is procedure-related pain and can be treated successfully using ice packs or over-the-counter pain medications. After a few days, you should begin to notice an improvement in your usual pain and can expect continued improvement over the next several weeks.

Side Effects of Facet Rhizotomy

Serious complications are rare, however contact your physician if you experience any of the following:

Prolonged pain at the injection site
Fever
Chills
Dizziness
Weakness
Numbness that lasts more than 2-3 hours
Bleeding or drainage at the injection site