Transform Your Life with Advanced Lumbar Facet Syndrome Treatment: Queens’ Leading Pain Management Solution

Lower back pain affects millions of Americans, but when that pain stems from lumbar facet syndrome, finding effective treatment requires specialized expertise. The lumbosacral facet joint is reported to be the most common source of mechanical low back pain in 15-45% of patients with chronic LBP, making it a significant concern for those seeking lasting relief from debilitating back pain.

Understanding Lumbar Facet Syndrome

Facet joint pain, or facet joint syndrome as it is sometimes called, is a condition that affects the joints that sit either side of your lumbar vertebrae. If these joints are overloaded from a sudden injury, or become irritated from degeneration or overuse, it can cause a significant amount of pain, loss of movement and function. The most common site of facet joint pain in the lumbar spine is at the L4-L5 level followed by L5-S1.

Facet joint degenerative osteoarthritis is the most frequent form of FJ pain, intimately tied to degeneration of the intervertebral discs. Like in all synovial lined joints, osteoarthritis is a continuum between loss of joint space, narrowing, loss of synovial fluid and loss of cartilage and bony overgrowth. The condition becomes more prevalent with age, with evidence of osteoarthritis found in more than one half of adults younger than 30 years and 100% after 60 years.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Identifying lumbar facet syndrome can be challenging, as facet joint syndrome is commonly overlooked in patients with chronic low back pain due to the absence of a clinical picture in facet joint syndrome, conventional clinical examination nor radiological examination can diagnosticate facet joint syndrome. However, typical symptoms include:

• Pain usually confined to the lower back, but it can travel into the buttocks and down the back of the thigh. It’s rare for the pain to travel below the knee. Most people with lumbar facet joint problems experience lower back pain that becomes worse with twisting, standing, or bending backward
• Pain that tends to be higher in the morning after a night’s sleep, following heavy exercise or after sitting still for long periods of time, during periods of inactivity, and following stress exercise, lumbar spine extension or rotary trunk motions
• Conversely, bending forward may relieve the pain

NY Spine Medicine’s Comprehensive Approach

Located in the heart of New York City, NY Spine Medicine offers the highest level of pain management in NYC. Find our team, innovative services, and supportive patient resources today. With multiple locations across New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, NY Spine Medicine makes it easy to access expert pain management care close to home.

The practice’s philosophy centers on the core belief that surgery should be a last resort for treatment of your pain. We exhaust all possible medical options to help our patients recover from their pain as safely and as painlessly as possible. Their holistic approach encompasses minimally invasive procedures to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent future injury.

Advanced Treatment Options

At NY Spine Medicine, we believe in personalized care. We take the time to listen to your concerns, understand your goals, and develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Our multidisciplinary approach combines the expertise of pain management specialists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to provide you with comprehensive care every step of the way.

Conservative Management

When history and physical examination indicate lumbosacral facet syndrome, treatment should be initiated with physical therapy and medication if needed. Physical therapy includes lumbosacral stretching and strengthening, as well as exercises that target core strengthening. Although it may seem counterintuitive, exercise is very effective in treating facet joint syndrome and can help speed up the healing process. Physical therapists can provide direction on the right way to lift objects and insight into proper walking techniques. They’ll also work with you to strengthen and stretch your lower back, leg and stomach muscles.

Interventional Procedures

For patients requiring more advanced intervention, NY Spine Medicine offers cutting-edge procedures. They offer a variety of minimally invasive interventions designed to provide effective relief with minimal downtime. From epidural steroid injections to nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation, our interventional procedures are performed with precision and expertise to target the source of your pain and promote healing.

One of the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is Facet Block Injections Queens patients receive. A cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), or lumbar (lower back) facet joint injection involves injecting a steroid (anti-inflammatory) medication, which can anesthetize (numb) the facet joints and block the pain. Using a thin needle and x-ray-guidance fluoroscopy, a physician will inject contrast (x-ray dye) into or adjacent to the facet joint thought to be causing your pain.

Radiofrequency Ablation

For the treatment of general low-back pain radiofrequency treatment is controversial, but for lumbar facet syndrome it seems to have better outcomes. A study that investigated function, pain, and medication use outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for lumbar facet syndrome demonstrated a durable treatment effect of radiofrequency ablation for lumbar facet syndrome at long-term follow-up.

Diagnostic Excellence

Due to the poor correlation between history, physical exam, and lumbosacral facet syndrome, diagnostic blocks are the mainstay in establishing a diagnosis. Because of false positive results, experts recommend performing 2 diagnostic medial branch blocks to confirm a diagnosis. A positive response is considered to be greater than 80% pain relief after the procedure.

Between standard x-rays, medical resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans and other specialized tests, MRI is considered the best option for diagnosing and evaluating lumbar facet joint disease.

Expert Leadership

NY Spine Medicine is led by highly qualified specialists. Dr. Schottenstein received his interventional pain management training at Columbia University/ New York Presbyterian Hospital, rated one of the top five hospitals in the nation. He received his neurology training at Emory University, the highest ranked department in the South, and one of the leading programs in the nation. In addition to leading NY Spine Medicine, Dr. Schottenstein is an assistant professor of anesthesiology & neurosurgery at Cornell University, the top-rated hospital system in the region.

Comprehensive Patient Care

At NY Spine Medicine, we take a holistic approach to pain management, addressing not only the physical aspects of your pain but also the emotional and psychological factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. Our team understands the importance of treating the whole person, not just the pain, which is why we offer a range of complementary therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and mindfulness.

Facet joint syndrome can’t be cured, but the pain associated with it can be controlled. A targeted management of your back pain with the right combination of exercise, physical therapy, medication and lifestyle changes can lead to a better quality of life.

Take the Next Step

Don’t let lumbar facet syndrome control your life. Whether you’re in need of a consultation, diagnostic testing, or ongoing treatment, our conveniently located offices ensure that you can get the care you need when you need it. Don’t let pain hold you back any longer—schedule an appointment with us today and take the first step toward a pain-free life. Book a visit with NY Spine Medicine and start your journey to a life without limits.