Pain facet arthritis solvent damageThe anatomy of the spine consists of building blocks that are stacked, one upon each other. • Vertebral body-the bony building blocks of the spine • Facet joint-small stabilizing joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae • Intervertebral disc-discs which provide a cushion between each of the vertebral bodies and binds them together To prevent excessive motion, the segments of the spine are stabilized by a number of structures that also preserve the flexibility needed to turn, look around and get around. The facet joints, or joints with “small faces” are found at every spinal level (except at the top level) and provide about 20% of the torsional (twisting) stability in the neck and low back. The vertebrae of the thoracic area are normally far less mobile and permit a small amount of forward/backward and some side bending, and very little twisting. At each given spinal level the angle of the facets - relative to a plane running through the body from front to back - varies from more parallel to more perpendicular. Each facet joint is positioned at each level to provide the needed limits to motion, especially to rotation and to prevent forward slipping (spondylolisthesis) of that vertebra over the one below. Each upper half of the paired facet joints are attached on both sides on the rear of each vertebra, near its side limits, then extend downward. These faces project forward or towards the side. The other halves of the joints arise on the vertebra below then project upwards, facing backward or towards the midline to engage the downward faces of the upper facet halves. The facet joints do slide on each other and both sliding surfaces are normally coated by a very low friction, moist cartilage. A small sack or capsule surrounds each facet joint and provides a sticky lubricant for the joint. Each sack has a rich supply of tiny nerve fibers. The intervertebral discs are also a type of joint in the spine, and are bound together by flexible fibers in several circling bands, like a tough fire hose, that make up the outer portion of the disc. Disc joints can bend and rotate a bit but do not slide as do most body joints. Facet joints are in almost constant motion with the spine and wear out or become degenerated in many patients. When facet joints become worn or torn the cartilage may become thin or disappear and there may be a reaction of the bone of the joint underneath producing overgrowth of bone spurs and an enlargement of the joints. This condition is referred to as “facet joint disease” or “facet joint syndrome” or osteoarthritis. A protective reflex arrangement occurs when the facets are inflamed. This causes the nearby muscles that parallel the spine to go into spasm. The inflamed facets cause postural abnormalities along with powerful muscle spasm. The role of solvents and solvent damage in human beings is not mentioned in the literature. The keywords “pain arthritis facet solvent damage” are often searched for and may be a veterinary problem.
|
