Facet joint injection-- I have SLE/Sjorgrens and i am having a Facet joint injection in my back.Has anyone got any views or had it? thanks

[sunshine16]

[else5]

hiya i have got to have the same done in january i wonder if anyone as had the same thing done i am not looking forward to it are you good luck in having yours done maybe some one will answer who as had this done

[Tigerlily4]

Hi Italiana. I've had numerous rounds of facet joint injections in my spine in the past 6 years for worn/damaged lumbar discs and consequent trapped nerves. They were really effective and originally provided up to 9 months' relief at a time but eventually dwindled to no relief at all. The injectable corticosteroid that provides the best relief is Depo-Medrone. I shan't lie - it can be an exquisitely painful procedure but this depends entirely on your consultant's expertise and speed. I strongly advocate accepting a small dose of Diazepam beforehand - which will likely be offered. Well worth undergoing but don't expect them to work forever and be sure to take a good quality calcium/Vit D tab to protect your spine's bone integrity. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[sunshine16]

Thank you so much for your replies..really helpful, I am having them done on Nov 25th so i will keep you informed.best wishes to you all xxx

[else5 in reply to sunshine16]

hiya italiana how did your treatment go on the 25th nov hope it went ok i have got to have this done on the 26 th of jan keep well xxxxxx

[sunshine16 in reply to else5]

hi It went ok ! not as awful as i had imagined, don't be frightened..i had mine done with local anesthetic injections then had two injections i think ...was in a bit of discomfort last night but just took regular pain killers and today the pain has eased a little... i have got to keep a pain diary and hoping that it works ...will keep you informed. hope you are well take care xx

[Barnclown]

I've had both the temporary and the permanent types of these done several times by the same pain consultant to my cervical, lumbar & sacral spine facet joints, bilaterally, for spondylosis due maily to childhood injuries & career choices. These procedures to my facet joints began in 1998.

My pain was chronic by the time these procedures began to happen, so their effectiveness was limited until I'd done a lot of physio. But they helped LOADS more than the NSAIDS or analgesics +complimentary therapies + lifestyle management I'd done so conscientiously for decades.

Unfortunately, my drs hadn't realised I've had SLE since birth. Once that was (re) diagnosed 2 1/2 yrs ago, and meds started, any lingering spine, shoulder & pelvic girdle aches & pains just about disappeared altogether....but I still have to lifestyle manage & I can't do certain things without stirring trouble up. As with most all of our treatments, facet joint injections & denervations are a suck it & see situation. I was REALLY scared the first time....but now I know they are wonderful....by my 2nd session I wasn't scared at all.....

Good luck & take care

[wall1409]

Im getting it done on 25 november after over a year of chronic back and hip pain due to oa of spine mobility is severy restricted to a few steps and 2 sticks so this is a diagnostic and pain relief for si joints if this doesnt work he mentioned severing the nerves so really hoping it helps

[hazelHollingsworth]

Hi, Yes I had those for about 10 years and at first they lasted 5 to 6 months as the years went by it lasted less and less. Because of the twisting of my spine I ended up having extensive spine surgery and now have 2 x 8" rods in my back along with many nuts and bolts - all Titanium and my hubby says I am worth a fortune! Do try them, yes a tad uncomfy, but oh the relief when it works is Bliss.

[Carcrashgal]

It was my brilliant pain consultant (now sadly retired) who invented this procedure and it has helped thousands and thousands of people. Everyone else is right; it's usually temporary - but oh! Those nine months! And as he used to say: who knows what's going to be invented or discovered during that period. All any of us can do is hang on in and pray those clever researchers stumble onto something to help. (I always said, after the first car crash which broke my neck, that once they invented plastic necks I'd be fine. Eight years ago I had two cervical discs removed and replaced with carbon fibre cages: it might not have solved all my problems but it stopped me being paralysed!) That's why it's important never to give up, no matter how bad things look: there are new medications, new procedures, being trialled all the time . . . Hope it goes well! Jo

[Barnclown]

Food for thought:

Pain consultants can use injections to spinal facet joints as a diagnostic tool: these temporary injection blocks help a pain consultant to determine whether you are a candidate for more permanent facet joint denervations. I was a successful candidate, and went on to have the nerves in my facet joints permanently blocked. The procedure is done in an operating theatre (as were my diagnostic injections). Many patients need permanent blocks repeated one more time. Not all of mine had to be repeated.

By following this route, I managed to avoid the double cervical discectomy that my nhs neurosurgeon had booked for me: I had the date and everything, ready to go. But if major surgery is avoidable, this is great!

[sunshine16]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply, I really do appreciate it , I wish you all the very best and keep positive!