(Newswire.net — July 17, 2019) –Back Pain due to Lumbar Facet Syndrome
There are many different types of back pain. When you have back pain you do not care what type it is, you just want it gone. However, how it is treated will make a difference when you have a correct diagnosis. So if you have back pain I encourage you to read on.
The facet joints are the small stabilizing joints between and behind adjacent spinal vertebra. They allow for the spine to twist and bend, they do not allow for a lot of that type of movement. A healthy facet joint has smooth cartilage on the surface and synovial fluid that surrounds the facet to allow for easy movement. Lumbar facet pain occurs where the facets from the adjacent vertebra either above or below are not properly aligned. We call this a subluxation.
As with most things aging can be detrimental to a facet joint. Gradual degeneration tends to make facet joint pain worse. What tends to happen is the cartilage starts to thin this allows for more friction and you guessed it more pain. When the patient has lumbar disc issues more stress is placed on the facet joints causing more degenerative changes.
Here is what you should look for in terms of symptoms. See if you can lean back if it hurts you may have facet joint syndrome. Now try twisting to your right and left from the waist. See if that causes any soreness, this would be another sign of back pain from facet joint problems. See if you can reach around your back near the sides of the spine and press in. If you experience soreness you might have facet issues. Usually, facet pain does not radiate it stays localized to the affected facets.
Lumbar joint mobilization is perhaps the most effective way of dealing with facet joint issues. By prepositioning the vertebra into it’s an ideal location there is less tension on the cartilage so it won’t wear out as quickly. Naturally, a home-exercise program will be important to help keep the lower back mobile. Chiropractic care and exercise is a good way to ward off back pain. As with most things in life you can be flexible and in great shape and still have lower back pain. Prevention is always a good idea.