Facet Joint Disease

What Are the Symptoms of Facet Joint Disease?

Facet joint disease symptoms typically occur intermittently, with episodes coming as frequently as a few times a month. Commonly, the area affected by facet syndrome symptoms will be tender to the touch. Severe muscle spasms are also a common symptom of facet joint disease.

Cervical Facet Disease Symptoms

One of the most common facet disease symptoms is tenderness and inflammation in the affected joint(s). There may also be some loss in flexibility of the cervical spine (neck), sometimes referred to as guarding.
Many patients feel more pain in the affected area when leaning backwards, while there is relief in pain levels when bending forward.
Pain felt from facet disease will usually be felt in the neck and radiate into the shoulders or upper arm.
Facet disease pain is only rarely felt radiating into the forearm and down to the fingers.

Lumbar Facet Disease Symptoms

One of the most common facet disease symptoms is tenderness and inflammation in the affected joint(s). There may also be some loss in flexibility of the lumbar spine (lower back), sometimes referred to as guarding.
Many patients feel more pain in the affected area when leaning backwards, while there is relief in pain levels when bending forward.
Pain felt from facet disease will usually radiate down into the buttocks and travel down the back of the thigh. It is very rare that pain will actually be felt in the front of the thigh.
Pain may rarely be felt radiating below the knee or into the foot, like pain caused by a herniated disc usually does.

Arthritis and facet joint disease symptoms are similar, and can be incredibly painful. Painful facet disease symptoms may be felt in the buttocks and the back of the thigh if the affected joint is in the lumbar spine (lower back), and in the shoulders and upper arms if in the cervical spine (neck).

Although facet joint disease symptoms are a close match to a herniated disc, symptoms of facet joint disease and a herniated disc can be easily distinguished from each other because facet syndrome symptoms will very rarely be felt beyond the indicated areas.

Confused about your symptoms?

If you think that you are showing signs of facet joint disease we recommend that you take a moment to fill out our where is your pain diagnostics survey. Once we receive it, one of our ASC patient advocates will be in touch with you to provide you with any help or advice that you may need.

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