Interventional Procedures
Facet Joint Injections
Steroid and anesthetic placed inside an arthritic facet joint to confirm the pain source and calm inflammation.
Time in the office
Plan for about 45 minutes total in the office, including check-in, a procedure that itself runs 15 to 20 minutes, and a short observation period before you are discharged.
When relief starts
Local anesthetic can relieve pain within minutes of the injection, the steroid component builds over several days, and overall benefit commonly lasts from a few weeks up to several months.
What it is
A facet joint injection delivers local anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into one of the small paired joints at the back of the spine.
It serves two purposes: it tells us whether that specific joint is the source of your pain, and it treats the inflammation within the joint.
Injections are performed under fluoroscopic guidance so the medication reaches the joint space itself.
What to expect, step by step
You lie face down on the procedure table and the skin over the target joints is numbed.
A thin needle is advanced into the joint under live X-ray, with contrast used to confirm placement.
Multiple levels may be treated in the same visit; the procedure usually takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Recovery
Same-day discharge with brief observation.
Mild soreness at the injection site for a day or two is normal and responds to ice.
Normal activity typically resumes the following day.
Typical results
Immediate relief from the anesthetic helps confirm the diagnosis.
Steroid benefit develops over several days and may last months.
If relief is clear but temporary, radiofrequency ablation is often the logical next step for longer-lasting results.
Risks and considerations
Serious complications are uncommon, but no procedure is risk-free and you deserve the honest version before you consent.
- Temporary soreness at the injection site lasting one to two days
- Small risk of infection or bleeding at the needle site
- Facial flushing or brief blood sugar elevation from the steroid
- Temporary numbness or heaviness if anesthetic spreads to a nearby nerve
- Relief may only be partial or short-lived, which itself provides diagnostic information
Common questions
Is this the same as a medial branch block?
How soon will I know if it worked?
Do I need imaging before this injection?
What happens if relief does not last?
Conditions this treats
Facet Joint Injections is most often recommended for the conditions below, once the source of pain has been confirmed.
- Spinal Facet SyndromePain arising from the small paired joints at the back of the spine, often worse with extension, twisting and standing.
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- Low Back InjuriesLumbar strain, disc and joint injuries from lifting, falls and repetitive load, with or without leg pain.
- Athletic InjuriesSport and training injuries of the spine and joints, managed with an emphasis on return to activity.
Related treatments
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
- Medial Branch BlocksA precise diagnostic block of the small nerves carrying pain from a facet joint, used to plan longer-lasting treatment.
- Radiofrequency AblationRadio waves used to interrupt pain signals from confirmed facet or sacroiliac nerves, often giving relief for a year or more.
- Sacroiliac Joint InjectionsImage-guided injection into the SI joint to confirm and treat one-sided low back and buttock pain.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.