Facet Injection

The facet joints are located along both sides of each vertebra, where they give your spine the flexibility to bend and twist. A facet joint injection delivers a local anesthetic directly into the facet joints to control pain. Facet joint injections may be used as a diagnostic tool to determine if the facet joint is the source of pain, or therapeutically to relieve previously diagnosed pain.

The procedure is normally performed in a fluoroscopy room, since X-ray guidance is used to guide the needles that deliver the anesthetic into the joint. If required, you may receive an intravenous (IV) line in your hand or arm to deliver fluids or medicine. The injection site will be numbed near the surface of your skin using local anesthetic and a short needle. Longer needles are guided into the facet joints and x-rays will be used to confirm placement before injecting the anesthetic into the joint. The delivery of the anesthetic may cause a stinging or burning sensation that typically passes after about 15 seconds. In many cases, pain is alleviated almost immediately after the injection.