The facet osteoarthritis is a pathologistíbecause it affects the facet joints of the spine and can significantly affect the quality of life of all those who suffer from it. Ante la aparición of one facet pain, It is important to go to a traumatóspecialized spine logo, since it is treatedá of the professionaláIt is adequate to be able to determine the treatment that must be carried out, especially in the case that the pathologyíhas isé very advanced and it is necessary to resort to a microsurgeryíto of vertebral column.
Index
¿Whaté are the articular facets of the spine?
The joint facets are the connections that exist between the different vévertebrae that make up the spine and that allow its mobility. These are formed by a cápsula, surrounded and reinforced by ligaments that provide the necessary resistance.
The main functionón of them is none other than that of limit and prevent rotationón, así As the anterior displacement of the vévertebrae. Once this is known, It's time to talk to you about causes and sísymptoms of facet osteoarthritis.
¿Whaté is facet osteoarthritis?
The facet osteoarthritis is a pathologistíto what affects the articular facets of the spine, which can be caused by a degenerationóno cart wearífacet joint lake, so it's not extrañar it is a pathologyíto that it occurs frequently in those people who have an advanced age.
The wear of the facet joints is very similar to that of the intervertebral discs, although it must be taken into account that the disk usually suffers a degenerationón más early and that causes the degeneration to accelerateón of articular facet.
Causes of facet osteoarthritis
As we have already mentioned, When we refer to the main cause of the facet osteoarthritis, We have to keep in mind that this is the cart wearílago. In many cases this wear is caused by a decreaseón of the intervertebral disc, which causes an increase in pressure to be generatedón on the articular facets.
La degenerationócard no.ílake of the facet joints can cause laxity and subluxationón articular, Or what is the same, a destabilizationóno of joints. Así, as it happens with facet hypertrophy, which refers to an inflammationóExcessive n of the facet joints that causes pain in the patient, being the one that occurs most frequently lumbar facet hypertrophy in L5-S1.
Sísymptoms of facet osteoarthritis
when you suffer facet osteoarthritis It must be borne in mind that at first it does not usually cause sísymptoms on the patient. Nevertheless, as cart wear occursílake and facet joints and this grows, that person who suffers it can end up suffering accompanying painñstiffness and immobility.
One of theísymptoms that can be found more frequently on the occasion of the facet osteoarthritis you are the dolor lumbar crónico, which is known by the name of lumbar facet osteoarthritis, and that can significantly affect the quality of life of the patient. In fact, can affect daily activities, such as walking or sitting for long periods of time.
In those cases más graves, the facet osteoarthritis can end up causing the appearanceón of pathologistíace of higher gravity, like canal stenosis, What is a narrowing of the spinal canal?íI deo that it can produce a compressionón medullary. In this type of case, the patient sufferá major consequences and beá más grave, since the patient will experienceá severe pain and often even suffer from immobility.
Diagnófacet osteoarthritis
When a patient goes to a professional with hisísymptoms of facet osteoarthritis, take awayá out a exploración fíphysical of the patient, además from a study of classical historyínica, así such as possible family history.
In most cases, to beá necessary to carry out diagnostic testsóimage sticks, such as magnetic resonancesétics or radiographías, thanks to which it is possible to obtain imágenes of the area that is affected. In some cases, the person who suffers facet osteoarthritis tenderá to undergo a lumbar facet block or facet block, so that the location is searchedón exact location of the patient's pain.
In these kinds of situations, the diagnosisómust be performed periodicallyótip, having to do exácontrol menus from time to time once it has been determined that the patient suffers facet osteoarthritis, so to beá possible to detect in this way possible degenerative changes in the facet joints or intervertebral discs.
Treatment of facet osteoarthritis
Once a patient has been diagnosed as having facet osteoarthritis, depending onón of the síntomas y cóhow does it affect patients, the professional determineá a treatment, which in its early phases is usually based on analéphysical or anti-inflammatory. in addition, spaghettién it is recommended that a physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatmentón by the hand of a specialist.
In the cases más severe pain in which you suffer from lumbar facet pain or facet osteoarthritis, the patient submitá a la técnica míminimally invasive low back pain cróunique specialized in lumbar facet osteoarthritis.
In order to deal with this problem, you can use the lumbar facet block, además of to other possible solutions such as the radiofrequency.
Cóhow to prevent the appearanceóNo of facet osteoarthritis
In cases where the patient has a family history, the risk of suffering facet osteoarthritis increaseá. Nevertheless, There are certain guidelines that canían prevent the appearanceówhere is the problem.
For this, it is recommended to follow some háhealthy bits of life, based on a dietón Balanced and a moderate, low-impact exercise. In this way it will be possibleá get a body weight control, which is key to prevent suffering facet osteoarthritis.
there will be more pressure on the lower back, It is very important to know that adequate treatment is essential to be able to deal with this problem and that it does not get worse..
