Chronic Neck Pain Holding You Back? Expert Treatment Options for Facet Syndrome

Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint that affects millions of people worldwide. It can happen with various conditions, but one of the most common is facet joint syndrome. In fact, more than half of people who see a doctor for chronic neck pain (55%) have facet joint pain.

Board-certified pain management physician Marcie Merson, MD, at Palm Beach Pain Institute in Delray Beach, Florida, regularly diagnoses and treats neck pain caused by facet joint syndrome.

This article explains what facet joint syndrome is and discusses what to expect during diagnosis and treatment.

Understanding facet joint syndrome

Facet joint syndrome, also called facet syndrome, is a chronic condition that affects the facet joints, small joints that connect your vertebrae, allowing you to bend, twist, and move your spine comfortably.

The most common cause of facet joint syndrome is general wear and tear, but it can also occur due to trauma or medical conditions such as arthritis. Regardless, people with facet joint syndrome often experience chronic neck pain that makes it difficult to perform daily activities. 

The good news is that with a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan, you can ease chronic neck pain and get back to your life. 

Diagnosing facet joint syndrome: what to expect

Dr. Merson reviews your health history and asks about your symptoms, including when your neck pain started, where it occurs, and if certain activities, such as sitting for extended periods or exercising, make it worse.

Next, she examines your neck, gently pressing on it to identify tender areas. Dr. Merson also assesses your neck’s range of motion, checking if you can look up, down, and side to side. She may also order diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or an MRI, to check for structural changes affecting your facet joints.

Sometimes, facet joint-related changes are easy to see; however, in other cases, Dr. Merson uses additional diagnostic techniques, such as facet joint injections or medial branch blocks, to identify the source.

After gathering the necessary information, Dr. Merson makes personalized treatment recommendations.

Expert treatment options for facet joint syndrome

Dr. Merson treats facet joint-related neck pain using a conservative, minimally invasive approach whenever possible. She may suggest:

• Physical therapy
• Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT)
• Medication management
• Facet joint injections
• Medial branch blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Some people notice significant improvements right away, while others benefit from several treatments performed over a series of weeks or months. Either way, Dr. Merson monitors your symptoms at routine checkups and adjusts your care plan as needed to support the best possible results.

We can help in managing your chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain can significantly affect your mobility and quality of life, but you don’t have to suffer.

Contact us today to explore more treatment options. Schedule an appointment by either booking online or calling our office at 561-499-7020.