Facet osteoarthritis is a pathologyía that affects the facet joints of the spine, that can affect the patient's quality of life.
Index
¿Whaté are the articular facets of the spine?
The articular facets, are the connections between the different vévertebrae of the spine, that allow its mobility. East án formed by a cápsula, surrounded and reinforced by ligaments that provide resistance. The main functionóof the articular facets of the spine is to prevent and limit rotationón and previous displacement of the vévertebrae.
¿Whaté is facet osteoarthritis?
Facet osteoarthritis is a pathologyía that affects the articular facets of the vertebral column, produced by the desgaste o degenerationócard no.ífacet joint lake, so it is a pathologyíto howún in elderly patients.
The wear of the facet joints is very similar to that of the intervertebral discs, Nevertheless, the disk usually undergoes a degenerationón más early, que acelera la degenerationón of articular facet.
Causes of facet osteoarthritis
as explained, The main cause of facet osteoarthritis is the wear of the cartílago, in many cases, this wear is due to a decreaseón of the intervertebral disc, which causes an increase in pressureón on the articular facets.
La degenerationócard no.íof the facet joints can cause laxity and subluxation.ón articular, that is to say, instability in the joints. Así What, facet hypertrophy, which refers to an inflammationóExcessive n of the facet joints that causes pain in the patient, being the más común the lumbar facet hypertrophy at l5-s1.
Sísymptoms of facet osteoarthritis
Facet osteoarthritis at first does not usually cause sísymptoms in the patient. Nevertheless, as the cart wearílake and facet joints is greater, The patient may complain of accompanying pain.ñstiffness and immobility.
Most people who are in pain and need to know síntomas más common facet osteoarthritis is low back pain crónico, known as lumbar facet osteoarthritis, that can affect the patient's quality of life, may affect daily activities of the patient, such as walking or sitting for a whileílong ears of time.
In the cases más graves, facet osteoarthritis can lead to pathologyías más graves, for instance, canal stenosis, that is to say, a narrowing of the spinal canalíI say that it can produce compressionón medullary. In these cases, the symptomatologyíto the patient beá different and más grave, since the patient will experienceá severe pain and, in many cases, immobility.
Diagnófacet osteoarthritis
Once the patient goes to the specialist stating hisísymptoms of facet osteoarthritis, take awayá carry out an explorationón fíphysical of the patient, así What, a study of classical historyínica, así What, of possible family history.
in the majoría of the cases, to beá necessary to carry out diagnostic testsóimage sticks, such as radiographyíthe magn resonancesétics, that let me getágenes of the affected area. In some cases, the patient beá subjected to a facet block or lumbar facet block, in order to know the locationóexact n of the patient's pain.
In these cases, the diagnosisóstico come trueá peri-shapedótip. That is to say, once the patient is diagnosed with facet arthrosis, to tenderán what to do exácontrol menus from time to time to be able to detect possible degenerative changes in the facet joints or intervertebral discs.
Treatments for facet arthrosis
Once the patient is diagnosed with facet arthrosis, depending onóNo of the symptomsíand the affectationón than the pathologyíto have in your día a día, guide yourselfá a treatment. Lo más usual is usually a first treatment, based on analgéphysical or anti-inflammatory, that help alleviate theípatient symptoms. Además, is usually recommended rehabilitation treatmentón supervised by a specialist, to help the patient regain mobility and flexibility in the spine, así What, improve stability.
In the cases más severe lumbar facet pain or facet osteoarthritis the patient submitá a la técnica míminimally invasive low back pain cróunique specialized in lumbar facet osteoarthritis.
lumbar facet block
This téradiofrequency technique is called rizólysis, through which to injectán corticosteroids throughés of an infiltrationón lumbar facet or facet block. In these cases, the symptomatologyíto the patient beá different and más grave, since the patient will experienceá severe pain and, in many cases, immobility.
The recoveryón afterés of a lumbar block offers very positive results accompaniedñundergoing rehabilitation treatmentón.
Our mémedical specialists in infiltrationón and radiofrequency of the spine in Madrid serán those in charge of alleviating their sílumbar facet syndrome through radiofrequency or infiltrationón of the lumbar facets.
This treatment offers good results accompaniedñundergoing rehabilitation treatmentón.
Radiofrequency for the treatment of facet arthrosis
in patients with facet arthrosis, radiofrequency treatment has very favorable results that help improve the patient's quality of life, especially, in cases of low back pain facet crónico.
radio frequency, contributes to treating possible nerve injuries in the area. The treatment is performed percutally.ánea and it's a tépainless technique. The specialist inserts a needle and guidesá by fluoroscopy, applyáNo electrodes in the area to interrupt possible señyou are nervousén reaching the brain.
Cóhow to prevent facet arthrosis
In cases where the patient has a family history, the risk of suffering from facet osteoarthritis increasesá. Nevertheless, There are certain guidelines that caníprevent or delay the onsetóNo of facet osteoarthritis.
It is recommended to follow a few hoursáhealthy bits of life, based on a dietón Balanced and moderate low-impact exercise. Thus, I know how to beá carrying out a body weight control to helpá to prevent facet osteoarthritis.
