Pain facet arthritis solventsFacet joints are true diarthrodial (covered with cartilage) joints that separate the posterior portions of the vertebrae. When facet joints become arthritic – usually osteoarthritis is the cause- they may become a source of pain. Sometimes a facet injection will be done diagnostically to pinpoint a possible problem stemming from the facet joint. This examination uses contrast dye to pinpoint the source of pain within the facet joints of the spine. If the facet joint is the source of pain, a therapeutic facet injection may be performed where therapeutic steroids and local anesthetic are injected into the facet joint to decrease the pain and inflammation that may be present in this area. Pain relief from a facet joint injection procedure varies from minimal to long-term, depending on the specific symptoms. The procedure takes 10-30 minutes and you will be asked to wait 30-40 minutes after your procedure before leaving. Using a thin needle and fluoroscopy (x-ray) for guidance, the radiologist will place contrast, anesthetic, and steroid into the facet joint. During the procedure you may feel some slight pressure or discomfort. The radiologist will be interested in how this discomfort compares to your usual pain symptoms. In addition, your doctor will want you to keep track of any changes in your pain symptoms in the days and weeks following the injection in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. As for solvents, there is little mention in the literature about the use of solvents as a treatment for osteoarthritis in general or facet osteoarthritis specifically. By the same token, there is little mention in the literature regarding solvents as a cause of facet arthritis pain. Some people claim glucosamine and chondroitin work by acting as solvents. That is not the case. Their efficacy has more to do with correcting the deficiency of cartilage building blocks required for normal joint architecture. Solvent exposure has been implicated as a possible trigger for fibromyalgia symptoms. Patients with fibromyalgia often have concomitant facet osteoarthritis.
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