The spine is made up of vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other. Each vertebra is connected by an intervertebral disc in the front and a small facet joint in the back. If there is any damage, irritation, or degeneration of the facet joint, it can lead to pain.
Cervical facet syndrome is a type of osteoarthritis that occurs when one or more vertebrae joints deteriorate. When this happens toward the top of the neck, it is called cervical facet syndrome. At New Jersey’s NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, our neurosurgeons are specially trained to help patients handle cervical facet syndrome. Here, we explain the condition and what to expect from treatment.
Symptoms of Cervical Facet Syndrome
There can be many different symptoms of cervical facet syndrome, which can depend on the location and severity of the deterioration. Symptoms can include:
- Pain when twisting or bending
- Tenderness in the neck and upper torso
- Limited ability to extend or rotate the neck and shoulders
- Radiating pain that extends into the shoulders, upper back, or middle back
- Splitting headaches
- Localized pain at the joint site
- Soreness and stiffness in the neck
Sometimes, patients with cervical facet syndrome experience bone spurs. Bone joints are protected by cartilage that acts as cushions between the bones. When the cartilage wears away over time, the body will try to restabilize the joint with a small growth known as a bone spur. However, when a bone spur grows in the spine, it can interfere with the surrounding spinal components. This can cause damage to nerves or other vertebrae.
Causes of Cervical Facet Syndrome
The most common cause of cervical facet syndrome is the deterioration of the joints from the natural aging process. Other causes can include:
- Abnormal posture
- Inflammatory conditions like spondylitis
- Cervical degenerative disc disease
- Cervical herniated disc
- Cervical slipped or bulging disc
- Cervical radiculopathy from a compromised spinal nerve
- Cervical stenosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Traumatic injuries or whiplash
How Is Cervical Facet Syndrome Diagnosed?
To determine if a patient has cervical facet syndrome, Dr. Branko Skovrlj will examine the neck, shoulders, and upper back and assess for flexibility and range of motion. To pinpoint the pain and rule out other potential causes, Dr. Skovrlj may suggest tests such as:
- X-rays
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Bone density test
Can Cervical Facet Syndrome Be Treated at Home?
Once a person has been diagnosed with cervical facet syndrome, the doctor may recommend some non-surgical treatments to try to relieve the pain. Those can include:
- At-home remedies: Resting, icing, and heating the area is highly recommended
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Over-the-counter medications can help reduce swelling and relieve pain
- Physical therapy: Using stretches and movement to help relieve pain, especially in pinched nerves or strained muscles
- Cervical facet injections: These involve using steroids to reduce pain
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This uses heat from radio waves to disturb nerves sending pain signals
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: A person’s own plasma is injected into the affected area to help heal arthritic conditions
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at NU-Spine
If non-surgical treatments don’t cure cervical facet syndrome, Dr. Skovrlj may recommend a surgical treatment as the next step. At NU-Spine, we focus on minimally invasive spine surgery whenever possible.
A minimally invasive procedure involves a smaller incision site of about two centimeters or less, where a small tube is inserted. A microscope, camera, and other precision tools are then used to perform the procedure. Using minimally invasive techniques eliminates the need to cut through muscle and tissues to perform the surgery. Other benefits of minimally invasive procedures are:
- Quicker results
- Less blood loss
- Less muscle and nerve damage
- Less bruising
- Lower risks
- Faster recovery time
Often, a patient can go home on the same day as surgery to recover at home.
Surgical Treatments for Cervical Facet Syndrome
If NU-Spine determines that surgery is needed to treat cervical facet syndrome, there are a few different procedures that might be recommended. These include:
Spinal Fusion
A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that fuses two or more vertebrae together to create one solid bone. The fusion eliminates flexibility and motion at painful vertebral segments.
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
A TLIF involves removing an intervertebral disc during another procedure called a discectomy. Surgeons then join two or more vertebrae together. Hardware is used to replace the disc that was removed.
Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
An XLIF is a minimally invasive procedure. The neurosurgeon makes an incision from the side and fuses vertebrae after removing the discs between them.
All these procedures use minimally invasive techniques, allowing our patients to recover quicker than traditional surgical methods.
Find Relief From Cervical Facet Syndrome at NU-Spine
Patients with cervical facet syndrome can find relief by consulting with the medical team at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. Dr. Skovrlj focuses on complex spine procedures using minimally invasive spine surgery to provide patients with neck and back pain relief. Dr. Skovrlj is a board-certified neurosurgeon who wants to help patients get on with their lives pain-free.
NU-Spine serves the Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel, New Jersey, areas. To seek a diagnosis or treatment for cervical facet syndrome, contact NU-Spine today.
