Facet Hypertrophy Treatment Without Injections & Surgery

Facet hypertrophy, posterior facet syndrome & facet mediated pain are conditions that result from premature wear and tear of spinal joints. They are treatable and recoverable without steroid injections or spine facet rhizotomy (spine surgery).

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    Facet Hypertrophy, Posterior Facet Syndrome & Facet Mediated Pain Explained

    The spinal joint can be a source of pain. Facet hypertrophy, posterior facet syndrome in facet-mediated pain are interchangeable terms that describe spinal joints' disorder, damage, or injury.

    The term facet hypertrophy or posterior facet hypertrophy relates to the thickening of the ligaments that hold the bones of the spine (vertebrae) together. Facet ligaments connect vertebrae at the top and bottom with the adjacent segments. Repeated bending or twisting actions or activities injury spinal ligaments.

    Over time, the injured ligaments thicken or become hypertrophic. A thickened facet (facet hypertrophy) leads to decreased and painful movements. Common signs and symptoms include:

    • Pain and stiffness when standing from a seated position
    • DIfficulty standing upright when getting out of a chair
    • Pain that lessens with taking a few steps

    Posterior Facet Syndrome & Facet Mediated Pain

    Facet mediate pain is a common spinal-related condition resulting from premature wear and tear of joints: posterior facet syndrome and facet hypertrophy or the most common causes of facet mediated pain. The typical symptom of facet-mediated pain is back pain that worsens with activity and improves with sitting. Poor posture, prolonged sitting, and repeated bending or twisting is the leading cause of facet hypertrophy or posterior facet syndrome conditions, triggering facet mediated pain.

    How Is A Facet Mediated Pain Treated?

    The best treatment for facet-mediated pain is conservative management. A combination of chiropractic care with physiotherapy incorporating NSD Therapy® methods of the spine offers the best solution.  Pain medication, steroid injections, and spine surgery via rhizotomy provide short-term improvements. Steroidal injections and rhizotomy should be avoided as steroids (used in injections and during rhizotomy) cause tissue damage, accelerating the process of degenerative arthritis.

    Physical therapists and chiropractors designed NSD methods of spine care to treat posterior facet syndrome, facet hypertrophy, and facet mediated pain without injections or surgery.

    Posterior Facet Syndrome Treatment Through Breakthrough Methods

    Posterior facet syndrome or Facet Imbrication is a common type of spine disorder that occurs in those that have neglected minor issues. The most common cause of pain in facet syndrome (posterior facet syndrome) patients is facet hypertrophy. Facets are the small joints of the spine. They are present in every segment, except the first vertebrae in the neck. Facets allow motion, mobility and bear the body’s weight to a certain extent. The primary purpose of ligaments (soft tissues) is to connect the joints and provide a vacuum-sealed surface for the two connecting joints (encapsulating ligaments). Our daily life activities cause the soft tissues to wear out prematurely. The spinal joint or facet soft tissues include the attaching ligament and the encapsulating ligaments.

    The process of aging is a natural phenomenon that occurs throughout life. But for some, the process starts early or comes about aggressively. The wear and tear of the spinal joints or facet are also natural. But, excessive wear and tear can lead to thickening of the soft tissues and erosion of joint surfaces. When the surface of a joint (two connecting bones) wears out, it is referred to as a degenerative joint disease. The degenerative joint disease is not an actual disease but a process of degeneration that occurs at a rapid pace. A degenerated spinal joint is a weak and unstable joint. An unstable, weak joint or facet in the spine can be significantly painful. Pain is most severe with the changing of positions. When these degenerative changes are present in the low back, patients will have difficulty and pain when shifting from sitting to standing.

    Spinal Joint Pain, Discomfort and Instabilities are Issues Linked to Hypertrophy of Facet Joints

    As mentioned, facet hypertrophy (hypertrophy of facet) results from excessive damage to spinal joints. The term “Hypertrophy” means degenerative changes that result in thickening. A degenerated or thickened spinal ligament prevents the normal functions of a joint. Also, they are present or directly linked to decreased joint fluids (synovial fluids). The synovial fluids nourish joints, lubrication and prevent friction or rubbing of two surfaces. In short, the ligamentous damage is further complicated with joint erosions, bone spurs, determinations, and arthritis. 

    Neglect of a minor spinal condition can lead to degenerative changes that put excessive stresses on spinal discs and spinal joints. The medical term for the bones that form the spinal joint is “Facet.” There are two facets per vertebra (spinal segment): one of the right and the other on the left. Each facet connects to the facet of the vertebra above and below, thus forming the spinal joints.

    What is the Best Method of Treating a Painful Facet Joint or Spinal Joint Pain?

    The best means of joint treatment is conservative measures that address the actual cause of pain. And this holds for the spine as well. Conservative and non-invasive spine treatment is even more critical for slipped disc and spinal joint pain patients, including those with facet hypertrophy or facet mediated pain syndrome.

    Surgical interventions, steroid injections, rhizotomy, medication, ointments, massage, general chiropractic, or regular physiotherapy provide temporary relief. Therefore, to prevent further damage, instabilities, or even paralysis, you need expert treatments rendered by clinicians that employ effective targeted non-surgical therapies.

    To date, the best treatment for the spine is through NSD Therapy®. It is better than physiotherapy, chiropractic, injections, medications, massage, or exercise. In facet, NSD Therapy® provides better cures than all of these methods. The difference between NSD Therapy® and others means of spine care is the breakthrough spine technology and research-based conservative treatments that accompany the care you get on specialized devices.

    What Causes Spinal Joint Damage?

    Prolonged sitting, excessive loading of the spine, and poor postures place enormous stresses on spinal joints (facets). Continued pressures often lead to degenerative changes and arthritic formation of the facet joints (spinal joints), causing joint pain. Facets are the pivotal joints of the spine, allowing us to bend and twist, giving us agility and mobility. The lesser-known names of facet joints are:

    1. Zygapophyseal Joints
    2. Apophyseal Joints
    3. Z-Joints

    A Zygapophyseal Joint (Facet Joint, Apophyseal Joint, or Z-joint) has cartilaginous coatings: encapsulated with layers of specialized connective tissues (ligaments). Each facet Joint is well lubricated with synovial fluids to enable a smooth motion free of restriction or imbuement.

    Posterior facet syndrome, also known as facet imbrication, facet disease, or facet syndrome, is a common spine disorder seen in those that sit too long. Prolonged sitting is the most damaging of all activities when it comes to the spine. The human body was not designed to sit for hours on end, day-after-day, but yet that is what most of us do every day. Some refer to posterior Facet Syndrome as “Facet Pain” (facet mediate pain) or “Facet Pain Syndrome.” For most, the pain can be excruciating. Many have surgical interventions that by-and-large are useless at best.

    What Makes NSD Methods Of Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Your Best Option For Facet Mediated Pain & Facet Hypertrophy?

    Facets are the bony projections from each vertebra. A facet joint is a connection between two vertebrae. Facet joint and spinal discs allow for motion. They are the reason we can bend, twist, and be mobile. Facets of the spine and their respective spinal discs work together. So, when the facet joint gets injured, it will also impact the spinal disc. Hence, the reason a facet pain sufferer may also have a slipped disc (herniated disc or slip disc).

    The link between facet joints and spinal discs is one of why steroid injection into the spinal facet or the rhizotomy surgical procedures fail. They fail because these procedures fail to address the root cause of the issues. Moreover, steroid injections are harmful, as proven by a peer-reviewed published study in the Journal of Radiology.

    Surgical interventions such as facet spacers are also ineffective and often are removed as they cause more harm. The most efficient and compressive spine treatment for the slipped disc, sciatica, scoliosis, and patients with facet hypertrophy is the NSD methods of chiropractic combined with physiotherapy. Get more information on the benefits of NSD Therapy® by contacting an NSD therapy® center now. 

    NSD Therapy® is the BEST Treatment Option for the Spine

    NSD Therapy® was developed to treat every component of a spinal disc issue, and as such, a significant amount of attention is paid to facet joints. The Chiropractors and Physiotherapists work on each facet of the affected region during your therapy session. You will not need injections or drugs to recover from  facet pain (posterior facet imbrication or facet hypertrophy). In fact, facet injections may do you more harm than good. NSD Therapy® protocols require each patient to undergo a Facet Joint evaluations: nothing will be missed or ignored. The aim of NSD Therapy® is to identify and treat facets comprehensively in a manner that would resolve the issue.

    NSD Therapy® is a holistic system of care delivered by advanced chiropractic procedures, clinical physiotherapists, and technology. The single most significant component of NSD is the technologies used by chiropractors and physiotherapists.  So, before even thinking of surgery or useless facet injection, get evaluated and joint pain relief at a certified NSD Therapy® treatment center. Surgical centers may not like it, but the spine will be in better shape without having it cut or injected.

    Learn more about another common spinal disorder, Schmorl’s Nodes as it is often diagnosed as a co-condition to the Posterior Facet Syndrome.