Posted on October 1, 2009 in Types of Arthritis
What is Facet Arthritis?
Facet is situated between the vertebrae of each spine segment. The facet joints are present on the back of the spinal spinal column. Two facet joints are there in each pair of vertebrae. These allow the smooth movements of the spine.
Facet arthritis is also known as facet joint arthritis.
Facet Joint Arthritis Symptoms
The primary symptoms are:
- Severe pain after sitting for a long time
- Increased pain after a nap or in the early
morning
- Pain while bending to both sides and backwards
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Inflammation and irritation
Causes
The facet joint is made of small knobs of bone that line up along the back of the spine. The facet joints are covered by a smooth and rubbery kind of cartilage called articular cartilage.
The main cause of the facet arthritis is pressure buildup in the intersection points of the joint or joints. As a result of this, cartilage on the joint surface gets depreciated.
Treatment for Facet Joint Arthritis
The facet arthritis might be fully treated with the help of surgical and non-surgical medicines. Consulting a doctor in the early stages might bring remarkable improvement.
The primary treatments suggested for the facet joint arthritis are:
- To give enough rest for the joints a day or two
- Sleep in a firm mattress might give relief
- Sleep after bending the knees. This might relax the joints
- Take anti inflammatory medications
- Using muscle relaxants and oral steroids
- Taking the suggestions by a physiotherapist
- Taking injections in the case of chronic conditions
Bilateral Facet Arthritis
Bilateral facet arthritis is the arthritis which affects the facet joints. The facet joints are situated in the vertebrae keep the joints stable in the spine. The joints might deposit more bones and materials to strengthen the joints and spine. This might bring an abnormality and it develop as arthritis.
Bilateral facet arthritis is also known as bilateral arthropathy.
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