3 Proven Treatments for Facet Joint Syndrome

Facet joint syndrome can cause persistent back or neck pain that interferes with daily life. 

These small joints, located between vertebrae in the spine, help stabilize movement and support flexibility. When inflammation or degeneration affects facet joints, patients often experience stiffness, tenderness, and localized pain that worsens with movement. 

At Coastal Regenerative Orthopedics & Wellness Center in San Diego, California, Ronald Cohen, MD, and our team identify the root cause of pain and provide targeted, nonsurgical treatments that promote healing and restore mobility.

Understanding facet joint syndrome

Your facet joints guide the movement of your spine. When they function properly, you can bend, twist, and extend without pain. Over time, however, wear-and-tear, injury, or arthritis can irritate these joints, leading to inflammation.

You might notice:

• Pain when you lean backward or twist
• Stiffness after sitting or standing too long
• Tenderness in a specific area of your neck or lower back
• Discomfort that feels worse at certain times of day

Facet joint syndrome can resemble other spine problems, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters. We take the time to pinpoint exactly where your pain comes from. Once we confirm that it involves the facet joints, we build a treatment plan tailored to you.

Proven treatments for facet joint syndrome include:

1. Regenerative injection therapy

We focus on treating the root cause of your pain with Regenexx® regenerative injection therapy.

This approach benefits from your body’s healing ability to repair damaged tissue in the facet joints. We typically use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or other orthobiologic solutions, carefully prepared from your blood, to stimulate cellular repair.

During treatment, we:

• Use advanced imaging to guide injections 
• Deliver healing components directly into the affected joint
• Target damaged tissue without unnecessary impact on surrounding structures

Healing takes time, but expect gradual improvement as your body responds. Many people notice improved mobility and can return to activities they’d avoided due to pain.

2. Image-guided spine injections

We use image-guided techniques — such as fluoroscopy and ultrasound — to ensure we treat the exact source of your pain. Facet joints are small, and without guidance, injections can miss the target. We don’t leave that to chance.

With image guidance, we can:

• Accurately identify the affected joint
• Confirm the true pain generator
• Deliver treatment exactly where it’s needed

Image-guided spine injections are more targeted and efficient, helping to reduce unneeded procedures. 

3. Comprehensive nonsurgical spine care

Facet joint syndrome rarely exists in isolation. Your spine is a system, and lasting relief requires a broader strategy. We take a comprehensive approach focused on healing and long-term function, meaning we look at how your entire spine moves and supports itself.

Your care plan may include:

• Regenerative injections to repair damaged tissue
• Movement and activity guidance to reduce strain
• Strengthening strategies to support spinal stability
• Ongoing evaluation to track your progress and adjust treatment

Some improvements happen quickly. Others take time. Either way, we guide you through the process so you know what to expect at every stage.

Choosing the right treatment for you

No two cases are alike. The severity of your symptoms and your activity level play a role in determining the best path forward.

In many cases, combining treatments leads to the best outcome. For example, we may use regenerative injections to address tissue damage while also helping you improve how your spine moves and functions. 

Call our office today or schedule your consultation online to see if regenerative medicine is the right option for you.