Facet syndrome is one of the most common causes of back pain in the elderly. The pathology is caused by the gradual destruction of the facet joints due to increased loads on the spine. The disease often develops in people who are engaged in physical labor or sports. The main symptom is back pain. This disease does not cause any radicular symptoms if it is not combined with other spinal pathologies. If you want to undergo your diagnostics and treatment abroad, the Booking Health service will be helpful, as here you can find out the cost of treatment and choose a medical care program for your preferred dates.
Content
- Conservative treatment for facet syndrome
- Minimally invasive treatment for facet syndrome
- Surgical treatment for facet syndrome
- Why to undergo your facet syndrome treatment abroad?
Conservative treatment for facet syndrome
Most patients with facet syndrome receive conservative therapy, which aims to relieve pain. The main methods of treatment include:
- intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- manual therapy;
- weight loss activities;
- functional rest, namely reducing the load on the spine.
Doctors abroad also use cell therapy to treat facet syndrome. It does not eliminate the pain syndrome instantly, but it slows down the development of the disease and helps to restore the facet joints. Doctors inject platelet-rich plasma or stem cells into the joints. As a result, growth factors that stimulate regenerative processes are released. Improvement is observed after a few days, and the best result can be achieved a few weeks after the completion of cell therapy and lasts for several months.
For patients suffering from severe pain, doctors perform a facet joint block. They inject local anesthetics with glucocorticoids, which disrupt the conduction of pain impulses along the nerves. This is both treatment and diagnostics, as based on the results of the block, the advisability of performing facet joint radiofrequency denervation, which has a longer lasting effect, is considered. As a medical procedure, the block provides pain relief or its complete disappearance for 2-3 months.
Minimally invasive treatment for facet syndrome
Long-term pain relief can be achieved with the help of a minimally invasive procedure to destroy the nerve endings that conduct pain impulses from the facet joints. Their denervation can be performed by different methods:
- chemical denervation (injection of ethyl alcohol or other substances that destroy nerve endings);
- surgical denervation;
- laser denervation;
- radiofrequency ablation;
- cryoneurolysis.
All of these methods are similar in concept but differ in execution, as doctors can cut the nerves mechanically, freeze them with nitrogen, or destroy them with chemicals or heat, the source of which is laser radiation or high-frequency electromagnetic waves.
The most widely used procedure is radiofrequency denervation. With the proper selection of patients, the procedure is effective in the vast majority of cases. A facet joint block with anesthetics is performed to select candidates for radiofrequency denervation. Doctors temporarily "turn off" the nerves. If the procedure is effective, the destruction of the nerves will also work.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The insertion of a puncture needle is sufficient, so no incisions are required. An X-ray scan is used for guidance. After radiofrequency denervation, pain relief or disappearance is guaranteed for 12 months or more. The nerves will then be restored. The procedure for their destruction can be repeated.
Surgical treatment for facet syndrome
A surgical procedure for facet syndrome is not a very common option. It is mainly used when this disease is combined with spinal stenosis.
Doctors can remove hypertrophied facet joints. This operation is called a facetectomy. Surgery is performed using an open approach with an incision several centimeters long, so patients require a long recovery.
Facet joint removal often impairs the stability of the spine. Doctors can firmly fix two vertebrae together to stabilize it or use dynamic stabilization systems. This treatment method is more effective because maintaining the mobility of the spine excludes the degeneration of adjacent intervertebral discs, and the disease of the adjacent spinal segments does not develop. These patients are less likely to need revision surgery of the spine in the future.
Why to undergo your facet syndrome treatment abroad?
You can undergo your facet syndrome treatment at one of the best Spine Surgery Centers abroad with good long-term results and a low risk of complications. Treatment in developed countries has the following benefits:
- accurate diagnostics help determine the source of pain and concomitant spinal diseases;
- comprehensive conservative therapy, which includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, helps to achieve long-term improvement and slow down facet joint degeneration;
- doctors perform safe and minimally invasive procedures that help permanently eliminate back pain;
- a diagnostic block is performed before minimally invasive treatment to predict the effectiveness of radiofrequency denervation and assess its advisability;
- surgical treatment provides reliable results while maintaining the stability of the spine, and furthermore, physicians use dynamic stabilization systems to maintain spinal mobility and avoid any diseases affecting the adjacent spinal segments;
- patients having their treatment at hospitals abroad undergo rehabilitation following the operation, which helps them quickly return to their normal lives.
On the Booking Health website, you can find out the cost of treatment and compare prices at different hospitals. When you choose your medical care program through the Booking Health service, the cost of your diagnostics and treatment will be lower than when you contact the hospital directly. Prices will be reduced due to the lack of taxes for foreign patients.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Sergey Pashchenko and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Articles for Orthopaedic Practice - Orthogate
MedlinePlus
