Anyone Have Experience with Facet Pain in the Neck?

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

I'll preface this by saying, yes, I am seeing an MD and have had PT for several months. Pain in my neck has been off and on for years. It centers in the area between neck and shoulder. About a year ago, it became horrible. X ray showed some arthritis and degeneration of disc. I did Naproxen and PT for a few months and it became much more manageable. In November, it got bad again and I have done PT since. PT helps. But, anything can trigger the pain back again: plane flights (weekly) kill me, sitting with a mouse at a desk is horrible, for example.

I went back to the doc this week and she ordered an MRI.

I have mixed feelings about the MRI. What if it shows nothing and what if it shows something? !!

Anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Reba055 · ‎06-23-2014

Yes I have plenty of experience, lol. It's best to get the MRI to know what's going on. Then you will probably be referred to pain management. There are various treatments but the thing that helped me the most with facet joint pain was steroid injections, yet they don't work for everyone. They also do radio frequency ablation for facet joint pain. It will depend on what your MRI shows as to the appropriate treatment/meds. I know you are anxious but you can't just hope it will all go away, so best to know what you are dealing with. I have a multitude of spine issues so I can sympathize. Best of luck to you!

Mona_L · ‎08-07-2014

Last week, my spine dr. gave me Prednisone which relieved the horrific pain by 70% (6 day dosage). I have your exact symptoms. My MRI from March 4 showed 2 discs C6 & C7 had mild protrusions, yet no surgery needed. In January I severely bumped my head, and after 4 weeks, the pain escalated. Dr. gave me Vicodin which masked the pain, making life tolerable. Before that incident for two years, every time I stumble, jerk my arm, or overuse computer...the pain and burning started, and resonates down my left arm. Starting P.T. next week, but no doctor can identify the cause. I hope your anxiety lessens because this is the worst ailment I've endured, and I am not elderly. Sending prayers that you recover!

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

Yes, and mine had been with me for years as well (17 to be exact). At the 17 year point in time, the paraspinal muscles in my neck, traps to a certain extent, as well as muscles in the front of the neck, seized to a point that I could not turn my head to back out of a parking place, for example and actually dented my car doing so. My neck got to the point where I only had 5% movement to the left in rotation, so please know that I feel and understand your pain. I also had radiating pain down my right arm and had started dropping things. When I started dropping things and had driven my car into a concrete standard in a garage - these things occurred quite close together in time - I sought out a neurosurgeon who immediately ordered an MRI. I knew that an MRI was essential for a proper diagnosis.

Why? Because all the x-rays in the world will only show BONE. And though a facet issue is a bone issue, you really, really need to find out if the facet problem has compromised nerves/nerve bundles. One can only visualize nerve tissue on an MRI where nerves appear white against a black background.

So, please feel at ease with this MRI. It is a most important diagnostic tool for your physician. With the results of this imaging test, he/she may be able to place a finger directly on your issue/issues and begin to formulate a treatment plan that will REALLY make a difference for you. For me - I had only one option: the nerve bundle going off of the spinal cord at C5-6 could not be seen at all on the MRI (!) due to boney overgrowth surrounding it and pressing upon it, so I had to have surgery. (This was due to the trauma experienced by having been hit by 4 drunk drivers.)

The best of luck to you. Go and get that MRI and let us know how things progress from there.

God Bless.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

I have had 3 crushed cervical vertbrae since the 1970's. Have also had 3 ruptured spinal discs removed surgically. I say this to let you know that Medical Doctors are my primary source when I experience any spinal nerve pain. Neither my Orthopedic or Neurologic doctors could find a method to help me with my Cervical pain issues. I became friends with a Chiropractor and he was my answer to this pain. I would see him when I felt the need, never on any type of regimented schedule. Found the right pillows for when I used to sleep in a bed and that is pretty much my success story. I now have had 2 Orthopod Surgeons for many years, 1 of which Specializes in the Spine. They both told me that any surgery for these crushed discs would, at best, be 50-50 and that ain't a good enough percentage for this old man.

hckynut(john)

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

On 3/22/2015 Reba055 said: Yes I have plenty of experience, lol. It's best to get the MRI to know what's going on. Then you will probably be referred to pain management. There are various treatments but the thing that helped me the most with facet joint pain was steroid injections, yet they don't work for everyone. They also do radio frequency ablation for facet joint pain. It will depend on what your MRI shows as to the appropriate treatment/meds. I know you are anxious but you can't just hope it will all go away, so best to know what you are dealing with. I have a multitude of spine issues so I can sympathize. Best of luck to you!

Reba055 - Thank you for the info and I am sorry you have experienced this. It is no fun.

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

On 3/22/2015 sfnative said:
Yes, and mine had been with me for years as well (17 to be exact). At the 17 year point in time, the paraspinal muscles in my neck, traps to a certain extent, as well as muscles in the front of the neck, seized to a point that I could not turn my head to back out of a parking place, for example and actually dented my car doing so. My neck got to the point where I only had 5% movement to the left in rotation, so please know that I feel and understand your pain. I also had radiating pain down my right arm and had started dropping things. When I started dropping things and had driven my car into a concrete standard in a garage - these things occurred quite close together in time - I sought out a neurosurgeon who immediately ordered an MRI. I knew that an MRI was essential for a proper diagnosis.

Why? Because all the x-rays in the world will only show BONE. And though a facet issue is a bone issue, you really, really need to find out if the facet problem has compromised nerves/nerve bundles. One can only visualize nerve tissue on an MRI where nerves appear white against a black background.

So, please feel at ease with this MRI. It is a most important diagnostic tool for your physician. With the results of this imaging test, he/she may be able to place a finger directly on your issue/issues and begin to formulate a treatment plan that will REALLY make a difference for you. For me - I had only one option: the nerve bundle going off of the spinal cord at C5-6 could not be seen at all on the MRI (!) due to boney overgrowth surrounding it and pressing upon it, so I had to have surgery. (This was due to the trauma experienced by having been hit by 4 drunk drivers.)

The best of luck to you. Go and get that MRI and let us know how things progress from there.

God Bless.

sfnative - 17 years of it! UGH. I am sorry you have gone through all this. Did the surgery help it?

I am okay with the MRI - I just want to get it fixed at this point! Tired of living with it.

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

On 3/22/2015 hckynut said: I have had 3 crushed cervical vertbrae since the 1970's. Have also had 3 ruptured spinal discs removed surgically. I say this to let you know that Medical Doctors are my primary source when I experience any spinal nerve pain. Neither my Orthopedic or Neurologic doctors could find a method to help me with my Cervical pain issues. I became friends with a Chiropractor and he was my answer to this pain. I would see him when I felt the need, never on any type of regimented schedule. Found the right pillows for when I used to sleep in a bed and that is pretty much my success story. I now have had 2 Orthopod Surgeons for many years, 1 of which Specializes in the Spine. They both told me that any surgery for these crushed discs would, at best, be 50-50 and that ain't a good enough percentage for this old man.

John! Good grief. Crushed vertebrae and ruptured discs sound very painful. Not a good thing to go through or endure. I am sorry.

Yes - the right pillow is so very important! I sleep on a recliner much of the time with the "Save My Face" pillow. It's advertised to help prevent wrinkles and that is great, but the shape is just about perfect for my neck pain. The recliner and that pillow do help. I travel frequently for work and unfortunately, my recliner can't go with me. My pillow does, but it's not the same. Tempurpedic used to make a contour pillow that was perfect. They changed it and now it's not worth the price or use at all.

Best of luck to you.

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

On 3/22/2015 blueLagoon said: Last week, my spine dr. gave me Prednisone which relieved the horrific pain by 70% (6 day dosage). I have your exact symptoms. My MRI from March 4 showed 2 discs C6 & C7 had mild protrusions, yet no surgery needed. In January I severely bumped my head, and after 4 weeks, the pain escalated. Dr. gave me Vicodin which masked the pain, making life tolerable. Before that incident for two years, every time I stumble, jerk my arm, or overuse computer...the pain and burning started, and resonates down my left arm. Starting P.T. next week, but no doctor can identify the cause. I hope your anxiety lessens because this is the worst ailment I've endured, and I am not elderly. Sending prayers that you recover!

blueLagoon - I hope that the PT works for you. I am very glad to have an excellent PT and it helps. I also end each session with traction. I am very familiar with that pain and burning. I hate it. Glad the Prednisone helps you.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

On 3/22/2015 Sassenach1 said:
On 3/22/2015 sfnative said:
Yes, and mine had been with me for years as well (17 to be exact). At the 17 year point in time, the paraspinal muscles in my neck, traps to a certain extent, as well as muscles in the front of the neck, seized to a point that I could not turn my head to back out of a parking place, for example and actually dented my car doing so. My neck got to the point where I only had 5% movement to the left in rotation, so please know that I feel and understand your pain. I also had radiating pain down my right arm and had started dropping things. When I started dropping things and had driven my car into a concrete standard in a garage - these things occurred quite close together in time - I sought out a neurosurgeon who immediately ordered an MRI. I knew that an MRI was essential for a proper diagnosis.

Why? Because all the x-rays in the world will only show BONE. And though a facet issue is a bone issue, you really, really need to find out if the facet problem has compromised nerves/nerve bundles. One can only visualize nerve tissue on an MRI where nerves appear white against a black background.

So, please feel at ease with this MRI. It is a most important diagnostic tool for your physician. With the results of this imaging test, he/she may be able to place a finger directly on your issue/issues and begin to formulate a treatment plan that will REALLY make a difference for you. For me - I had only one option: the nerve bundle going off of the spinal cord at C5-6 could not be seen at all on the MRI (!) due to boney overgrowth surrounding it and pressing upon it, so I had to have surgery. (This was due to the trauma experienced by having been hit by 4 drunk drivers.)

The best of luck to you. Go and get that MRI and let us know how things progress from there.

God Bless.

sfnative - 17 years of it! UGH. I am sorry you have gone through all this. Did the surgery help it?

I am okay with the MRI - I just want to get it fixed at this point! Tired of living with it.

Sassenach,

I apologize for being remiss in not having included my outcome, which was super terrific awesome!!! I could not have asked for better and hope that you are likewse blessed with a correct diagnosis and reatment plan.

~Rebecca