Considering that doctors may recommend facet joint injections as often as three times a year, a positive result can be expected to last about four months. The amount of time you experience pain relief will vary. For some people, relief may only last for a few weeks. Others may notice that the pain has gone away for months or even years.If the pain recurs, you can always get additional injections.
The beneficial effects of steroids generally require 2 to 3 days to be effective; in some cases, they may take up to 5-7 days. If your symptoms don't change after a week, see your doctor to investigate other possible causes of your pain. The relief from Facet injections varies widely and can range from weeks to two months.If you suffer from chronic back or neck pain, you may be a good candidate for facet joint injections. If an initial injection provided some degree of relief, a second injection could reinforce the pain-relieving effect (known as “build-up”).
However, if the first injection into the facet joint does not relieve the patient's pain, the injection should not be repeated. Facet joints are small joints at the back of the spine and are found at all levels, from the lower back to the neck.It's important to know what to expect after receiving facet joint injections so you can be prepared for the recovery process. Facet joints are located on each side of the vertebra, and injecting local anesthetics and steroids can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. If the injection effectively blocked your pain, but only for a short time, your doctor may recommend additional injections.
Facet joint injection is a long-term steroid (“injection”) in facet joints, mainly in the lumbar spine.Facet joint pain is usually due to arthritis or joint degeneration, and is described as pain that remains along the spine and worsens when sitting, standing, or driving for a long time. A facet joint injection is a procedure that identifies the source of irritation in the small joints in each segment of the spine. A radiofrequency lesion generator produces irreversible destructive lesions in the medial branch that block the passage of the painful message from the affected faceted joint to the central nervous system. Using a fine needle and radiographic guide (fluoroscopy), the doctor will inject a contrast medium (X-ray dye) into or near the facet joint that is thought to be causing the pain.