Facet joint disease (FJD)

When facet joints become worn or torn the cartilage may become thin or disappear and there may be a reaction of the bone of the joint underneath producing overgrowth of bone spurs and an enlargement of the joints. The joint is then said to have arthritic (literally, joint inflammation-degeneration) changes, or osteoarthritis, that can produce considerable back pain on motion. This condition may also be referred to as “facet joint disease” or “facet joint syndrome”.

The diagnosis of Facet Joint Disease is almost purely clinical and little additional useful information is gained by plain x-ray, CT scan or Magnetic Resonant Imaging (MRI). Although these may show disc degeneration, this is not likely to be of clinical significance.

It is important to realize that pain does not necessarily come from your discs – this is in fact relatively uncommon. A feeling of putting your “back out” associated with a “click” or “crunching” is most likely the facet joint not the disc. This may be accompanied by agonizing sharp pain which requires immediate rest as any attempt at movement may trigger a painful muscle spasm.

Other symptoms of FJD are stiffness and pain radiating to the groin, hip or leg (sciatica type pain)

 

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