Small Facet Joint Injuries Can Lead to Big Problems

Many accident victims complain of excruciating pain in their back and shoulders, but their scans continue to look normal. If this sounds like your situation, there is a possibility you may be suffering from facet joint injuries. Your facet joints are very small, and it can be difficult to see any injuries on imaging scans.

However, regardless of how challenging it can be to see them, they are very common and cause big problems in everyday life. For instance, you may experience excruciating and chronic pain, discomfort, inability to move or bend, decreased mobility, and a diminished quality of life because of this type of spinal cord injury.

What are facet joints?

According to Spine-health, facet joints are the “bony building blocks of the spine.” They are the little joints that connect and hold the vertebrae together. Without facet joints, you would be unable to bend, turn, and twist your body in various directions.

The causes of facet joint injuries in Oklahoma City

Your facet joints may be tiny, but they are not as flimsy as you might think. Each joint consists of a hard outer shell that is “tough, resilient, and slightly flexible.” Therefore, these joints do not experience damage or injuries very easily. Here are some of the most common causes of facet joint injuries:

• Accidents and trauma: The most common causes of facet joint injuries are accidents and trauma. Therefore, if you are involved in a car accident, sports accident, work-related accident, or a slip and fall accident, you may likely experience some type of trauma to your spine, which can damage the facet joints. For example, if you are involved in a car accident that causes your back to bend backwards, make sudden and rapid movements, or twist in unusual ways, you will likely experience a facet joint injury.
• Repetitive stress: Another common cause of facet joint injuries is repetitive stress. Therefore, if you are continuously doing the same repetitive tasks at work, your facet joints could experience wear and tear, start to swell, and become damaged.
• Previous back injury: It is also not unusual for facet joint injuries to emerge with another back injury. For example, if you have a compressed disc, your vertebra may be putting continuous and increasing amounts of stress on your facet joints. As a result, if you do some type of heavy lifting or make one bad move, your risk of stretching or tearing the facet joints could be very high.

What are the signs of a facet joint injury?

There are several signs that may indicate that you have a facet joint injury, including:

• Pain in the back, shoulders, or neck
• Soreness or tenderness
• Stiffness
• Muscle spasms
• Headaches
• Ear ringing
• Leg or arm pain
• Pain or discomfort when moving, leaning, twisting, or turning
• Inability to walk long distances, stand up straight, or sit for long periods of time
• Changes in posture
• Avoiding certain activities because of pain or discomfort

Your symptoms typically depend on how many of your facet joints are affected and where the injury is located.

How are facet joint injuries diagnosed and treated?

As mentioned, facet joints are very small. Therefore, many doctors will order various tests, and the results may come back showing no signs of injury. When this happens, accident victims are sent home with ongoing pain. If this happens to you, it is important that you get a second opinion as soon as possible. Obtaining a diagnosis for facet joint injuries can be extremely hard, but it is essential to get the medical treatment you need and reclaim your life again. The following are some of the tests that a licensed healthcare provider may suggest in hopes of locating your facet joint injuries:

• Physical examination
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• X-rays
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan
• Bone scan
• Bone density test

Unfortunately, facet joints cannot completely heal once they have experienced any type of damage. Therefore, if your doctor is able to find and identify your facet joint injuries, they will likely recommend treatment options that reduce your pain and help you learn to cope with your new reality. These are a few of the initial treatment options that they may recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Exercise
• Weight loss
• Diet or lifestyle changes
• Medications to reduce pain and inflammation
• Posture improvement
• Applying heat or ice

If none of these treatments reduce your pain or your symptoms become worse, your doctor may recommend steroid joint injections, nerve ablation, or surgery.

Facet joint injuries may be small, but they can cause big problems. If you or a loved one suffers facet joint injuries due to another person’s negligent behavior, the Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at Cunningham & Mears are here to help. Even though these types of injuries are often overlooked and misunderstood, our team takes them very seriously and believes that your pain is real. When you hire us, we ensure that you get the appropriate medical treatment, advocate for your rights, and help you build a case to obtain the compensation you are owed for your injuries. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free and confidential consultation in Oklahoma City today.