Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain complexities? Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain are the 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy, yet the cause of either can be complex at times due to so many different causes. One of those is often very difficult to diagnose, frequently overlooked, and is therefore labeled as a secret or hidden cause. That hidden cause or secret source of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is known as Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome. Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome, is a chronic pain syndrome or condition directly related to pain in the facet joints.

What is Articulation of a Facet Joint? Facet Joints are posterior Spinal Joints that connect an adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together. The medical name Zygapophyseal Joint for a Facet Joint is complex in itself and difficult to pronounce. The Facet Joint moves in a manner that is medically known as Articulation within defined ranges of motion. Facet Joint articulation includes bending forward, which is known as flexion, bending backward, which is known as extension, and twisting to either the left or to the right, which for the Neck is known as Cervical rotation, and for the Lower Back, which is known as Thoracolumbar rotation. Flexion stretches and unloads the Facet Joint, while extension compresses or loads the Facet Joint. Facet Joints also limit range of motion in the spine, which helps to prevent excessive range of motion that can cause damage to spinal discs.

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 some common Symptoms of Facet Syndrome for the Lower Back? The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine. Lower back facet joint pain symptoms include increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, lower back pain or tenderness, 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.

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.

Are there any restrictions in Articulation of the Facet Joints? There is a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement, and that will answer one of the most important questions we have about the Facet Joints.

Can Facet Joint Pain be relieved with Special Exercises? Yes, an experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan to relieve Facet Joint Pain. 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 that will definitely reduce facet joint pain. Lumbar facet joint compression can be caused by Lumbar Lordosis and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature. Stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation can help to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred and will reduce facet joint pain.