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Before a facet joint injection, you should inform the doctor of all medications you are taking. Certain drugs that thin the blood may need to be withheld for a few days. In addition, you cannot eat or drink after midnight, but are allowed to take necessary medications with small sips of water.

When you arrive at the medical center, a nurse will go over the procedure and have you sign a consent form. In addition, an IV catheter will be placed in your arm for medications and fluids if necessary. Be sure to bring someone who can drive you home, as you are not permitted to drive for 24 hours after the FJI.

The facet joint procedure takes only 20-30 minutes and it begins by cleansing your back with an antiseptic agent. The doctor will numb the skin over the joints with an anesthetic, which will feel like a tiny pinch.

Once the tissues are numb, the Los Angeles pain management doctor inserts several small needles into the facet joints, which is done using x-ray guidance to assure correct placement. During the procedure, your vital signs are monitored.

Once the procedure is done, you will notice that your pain may be gone or greatly decreased. A nurse will monitor you in the recovery area for around 20-30 minutes until you are stable. Expect some soreness at the injection sites for 24-48 hours. We recommend ice packs to the back for 20-minute intervals several times a day.

You will be able to return to regular activities after a day or two of rest, but should avoid heavy physical activities during the recovery time.

The long-term effects of the medication cannot be pre-determined or predicted. The immediate effect from the anesthetic wears off in a few hours, but the corticosteroid will start working in 2-5 days.

The effects of the steroid can last for several weeks to months. Some patients only need one procedure, where several tiny facet joints are injected. For others, if the pain returns, the doctor may recommend a repeat procedure in several weeks.

The facet joint injection has a few risks and side effects, but these rarely occur. Commonly encountered side effects that are temporary include pain at the injection site, increase in blood sugary, water retention, and weight gain. Risks include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, blood vessel injury, and spinal fluid leakage.

According to a 2006 study of thoracic (middle back) facet joint injections, the success rate was 71% at 3- and 6-month follow-up, and 69% at 3 year follow-up. Other studies have shown FJI to significantly improve pain scores and functional status for up to 12 months.