The Cervical Spine and Lumbar Spine are Complex Structures that oftentimes exhibit Complex Causes of Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain. The cause of the 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy, Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain, can sometimes be extremely complex at times due to the complexity of their structures. There is always a root cause or secondary cause of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain, and that source of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is oftentimes labeled as a secret or hidden cause because it can be overlooked and very difficult to diagnose. That Secret or Hidden cause of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is better known as Facet Syndrome or Facet Joint Pain. Facet Syndrome or Facet Joint Pain is a collection of Chronic Neck Pain Symptoms or Chronic Lower Back Pain Symptoms directly related to pain in the facet joints, and that is why it is known as a Chronic Pain Syndrome.
What does Articulation have to do with a Facet Joint? The posterior spinal joint that interfaces an adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together, is called a Facet Joint or Zygapophyseal Joint. Articulation within defined ranges of motion, is the medical term for Facet Joint movement. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes flexion, which is bending forward, extension, which is bending backward, and Cervical Rotation, or Thoracolumbar Rotation, which is twisting from side to side. Facet Joint unload and stretch when flexed, and load and compress when extended, while having complex combination of either when twisted to one side or the other. Luckily for us, Facet Joints also limit excessive range of motion, which can cause damage to spinal discs in either the Neck or Lower Back.
Do Facet Joints have the characteristics of Synovial Joints? The most common joints in the human body are Synovial Joints, and Facet Joints are most definitely Synovial Joints. Synovial Joint and Facet Joint characteristics include having Synovial fluid within a joint capsule that lubricates the inside of the joint. The outside of the Facet Joint has cartilage between the upper joint surface of each vertebra and the lower joint surface of each vertebra that enables smooth gliding movements when flexing, extending, or twisting.
What is Facet Arthritis? Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy is a degenerative arthritis-facet joint inflammation that can be one of the syndromes of Facet Joint Pain. Both chronic pain conditions can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule or associated vertebral discs, injury or trauma, incorrect posture-excessive forward head posture, or abnormal spinal curvature such as Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back.
Factors affecting Joint Movement? The Facet Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Facet Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes stuck or fixated in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Facet Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to splint or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.
What are some Facet Joint Pain causes? Some causes of Facet joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.
What are Facet Syndrome Symptoms of the Lower Back? Lower back pain or tenderness, increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair are all symptoms of Lower back facet joint pain symptoms. The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine.
What are the Symptoms of Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome? Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head are all Facet Join pain neck symptoms. Check to see if the Facet Joint Pain Assessment indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.
Is the Facet Joint moving freely, or is movement restricted and if so, how? That is one of the most important questions that needs to be answered. There is a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement.
Can Exercises Relieve my Facet Joint Pain? Compression of the lumbar facet joints can be caused by Lumbar Lordosis and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature, so stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation can help to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching exercises for postural correction and hypertonicity reduction as well. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
What does Articulation have to do with a Facet Joint? The posterior spinal joint that interfaces an adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together, is called a Facet Joint or Zygapophyseal Joint. Articulation within defined ranges of motion, is the medical term for Facet Joint movement. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes flexion, which is bending forward, extension, which is bending backward, and Cervical Rotation, or Thoracolumbar Rotation, which is twisting from side to side. Facet Joint unload and stretch when flexed, and load and compress when extended, while having complex combination of either when twisted to one side or the other. Luckily for us, Facet Joints also limit excessive range of motion, which can cause damage to spinal discs in either the Neck or Lower Back.
Do Facet Joints have the characteristics of Synovial Joints? The most common joints in the human body are Synovial Joints, and Facet Joints are most definitely Synovial Joints. Synovial Joint and Facet Joint characteristics include having Synovial fluid within a joint capsule that lubricates the inside of the joint. The outside of the Facet Joint has cartilage between the upper joint surface of each vertebra and the lower joint surface of each vertebra that enables smooth gliding movements when flexing, extending, or twisting.
What is Facet Arthritis? Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy is a degenerative arthritis-facet joint inflammation that can be one of the syndromes of Facet Joint Pain. Both chronic pain conditions can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule or associated vertebral discs, injury or trauma, incorrect posture-excessive forward head posture, or abnormal spinal curvature such as Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back.
Factors affecting Joint Movement? The Facet Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Facet Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes stuck or fixated in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Facet Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to splint or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.
What are some Facet Joint Pain causes? Some causes of Facet joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.
What are Facet Syndrome Symptoms of the Lower Back? Lower back pain or tenderness, increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair are all symptoms of Lower back facet joint pain symptoms. The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine.
What are the Symptoms of Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome? Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head are all Facet Join pain neck symptoms. Check to see if the Facet Joint Pain Assessment indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.
Is the Facet Joint moving freely, or is movement restricted and if so, how? That is one of the most important questions that needs to be answered. There is a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement.
Can Exercises Relieve my Facet Joint Pain? Compression of the lumbar facet joints can be caused by Lumbar Lordosis and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature, so stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation can help to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching exercises for postural correction and hypertonicity reduction as well. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
About the Author:
Stephen Akamine has suffered from Chronic Pain for 17 years. He is a Licensed Medical Massage Therapist in the State of Hawaii and an outspoken advocate for relieving the suffering of Chronic Myofascial Pain patients. You can find Facet Joint Pain information and information about soft tissue treatment for pain at his online resource center.
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