Facet Joint Pain

Srinivas Chiravuri, M.D.
Director, Pain Medicine Fellowship
Director, Neuromodulation
Assistant Professor

Chad M. Brummett, M.D.
Director, Adult Pain Research
Assistant Professor

Department of Anesthesiology
University of Michigan Health System
Ann Arbor, MI

Introduction - TOP

Spine pain is a common problem throughout the world and is a significant cause of pain and loss of function.  Lifetime prevalence estimates are as high as 84% for back pain1 and 67% for neck pain.2  Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, with lost wages estimated at over $200 billion in 2002-2004.3  The etiology is usually multifactorial with involvement of muscles, ligaments, discs, nerve roots, and zygapophysial (facet) joints.  The facet joint is a potential source of headaches and pain in the neck, shoulder, mid back, low back, and leg. In 2006, interventions for facet pain represented approximately 37% of all pain interventions from Medicare, a 624% increase from 1997, second only to epidural steroid injections.4 

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