Lumbar facet joint pain

Facet joints are the parts of the spine that connect and join the vertebrae together. Facet joints support the spine and allow motion and stability. Facet joints can become injured and be a source of low back pain. Facet joint disorders are common and can be caused by degeneration (arthritis), traumatic injuries, sports injuries or overuse conditions.

Symptoms

Low back pain is common and may be made worse with certain positions of the spine such as bending backwards (extending). Facet joint pain is known as mechanical low back pain, this means certain movements may irritate while others may relieve pain.

Treatment

The treatment for low back facet joint pain depends on many factors such as the location, nature and severity of the facet joint pain. If there are associated symptoms and features this may also change the treatment approach. Consult your sports chiropractor or doctor for treatment options.

Other causes of low back pain

The following conditions are some other causes of low back pain.

• Lumbar myelopathy
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Bone Spurs
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Pinched nerve
• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Lumbar facet joint pain
• Bulging Disc
• Disc protrusion
• Discogenic pain
• Post laminectomy syndrome
• Coccydynia
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondyloarthropathy
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Reiter’s syndrome
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Sciatica
• Sacroiliac disorders
• Foot drop
• Spinal neurofibroma
• Acute low pain
• Chronic low back pain
• Stiff low back
• Trigger points in the low back
• Red flags for low back pain
• Internal disc disruption
• Lumbar spondylosis
• Lumbar facet syndrome
• Lumbar foraminal stenosis
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Lumbar osteoarthritis
• Lumbar osteophytes