2. Facet disease symptoms can usually be
managed nonsurgically through a doctor-
recommended treatment plan. In most cases, a
doctor will suggest that a patient diagnosed
with facet disease begin a course of
conservative treatments. These methods
usually focus on relieving the symptoms that
arise as a result of facet disease, such as focal
pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the neck
and/or back, as well as radiculopathic (traveling)
pain, muscle weakness, tingling, and numbness.
3. What are Conservative Treatments?
Conservative treatments are nonsurgical therapies that are considered the gold-
standard within the mainstream medical community. Most doctors treating a
patient with facet disease symptoms will recommend some form of conservative
treatment, such as:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – to reduce inflammation and
relieve pain
• Narcotic pain medication – to chemically alter the brain’s pain receptors to
alleviate pain
• Physical therapy – to encourage proper body mechanics and posture
• Hot/cold therapy – to ease muscle tension and numb pain, respectively
• Facet joint injections – to relieve painful facet joints with steroidal (anti-
inflammatory) and anesthetic (numbing) medications
• Gentle stretching – to lengthen muscles and loosen stiffened joints
• Low-impact exercise – to strengthen core and other supportive spinal muscles
4. Alternative Forms of Therapy
Some patients choose to augment their doctor-prescribed
treatment regiment with alternative therapies, which are not
only surgery-free, but also drug-free. Although not considered
part of modern Western medicine, holistic approaches have
been used for thousands of years to relieve pain and enhance
wellbeing. Common examples include
acupuncture, acupressure, yoga,
massage, biofeedback, and
chiropractic manipulation.
If you are considering alternative
therapies, be sure to talk with
your doctor about safely
integrating these into your existing treatment regimen.
5. What if Conservative Treatments Fail
to Alleviate Symptoms?
If a patient exhibiting facet disease symptoms does not
find meaningful relief from several weeks or months of
conservative and/or alternative treatment, a doctor may
recommend surgery. Usually, all forms of nonsurgical
treatment should be exhausted before a surgical
procedure is suggested, so patients may benefit from
seeking the opinions of one or more additional doctors
to ensure that surgery is the only remaining treatment
option, and also to explore the various surgical
approaches available for their condition.
6. Types of Facet Disease Surgery
Facet disease surgery may be performed as an open back or
neck operation, requiring general anesthesia, a large
incision, and muscle dissection. However, some patients
with facet disease may be eligible for an endoscopic
procedure, which requires only local anesthesia and deep IV
sedation, a small incision about one inch in length, and no
muscle dissection.
To learn more about managing the symptoms associated
with facet disease, patients should speak with a family
doctor or spine specialist.
