Facet disease occurs when the cartilage that lines the joints between vertebrae begins to deteriorate. This often happens as a result of the natural aging process, after years of wear have taken a toll on the spine. Patients with this disease often experience pain, inflammation, stiffness, headaches and difficulty bending and twisting. If you are experiencing these symptoms and you have noticed a decrease in your daily activities or quality of life, you should consult your doctor.
Having a spine condition like facet disease can cause pain and weariness that travels beyond just physical symptoms. You may notice a decline in your mental health after enduring months of chronic pain. It is important that you seek medical treatment and pain relief for this condition before your quality of life diminishes entirely. Read the following article to learn more about the mental and physical effects of this debilitating condition as well as the treatments available for relief.
Mental effects of facet disease
Dealing with chronic pain can cause many individuals to feel depressed. Patients who are experiencing feelings of hopelessness and despair should discuss their symptoms with a doctor, as they may prescribe medication like anti-depressants to help. Many patients with facet disease also experience anxiety, difficulty sleeping and frustration. Working through these feelings with a mental health counselor can help to diminish the mental effects of the disease. The mental effects of chronic pain should be treated in addition to the treatment prescribed for the physical pain, such as anti-inflammatories like Motrin or Aleve as well as physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation and making healthy lifestyle changes.
Physical effects of facet disease
In addition to causing varying degrees of mental difficulty, facet disease can also make it difficult for patients to carry out everyday activities. Patients with this spinal condition may find it difficult to bend, move and twist freely. This may affect their ability to:
- Bathe
- Grocery shop
- Cook
- Lift objects
- Play with their grandchildren
- Sit or stand
- Work
Patients who have difficulty performing everyday activities should ask a loved one for assistance to ensure their needs are met. A physical therapist also can help patients to achieve the best range of motion and productivity possible.
USA Spine Care treatment for facet disease
If the effects of facet disease have prevented you from living the active lifestyle you enjoy, USA Spine Care may be able to help. Our minimally invasive outpatient procedures have helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from their neck or back pain and we are confident our treatment can help you, too. Contact us today to receive more information about how our minimally invasive spine surgery can help you recapture your quality of life and schedule a no-cost MRI review* to learn if our outpatient procedures would be effective in relieving your chronic neck or back pain.
At USA Spine Care, we offer a minimally invasive facet thermal ablation to treat facet disease. During this stabilization procedure, a small and precise laser is used to remove the inflammation and arthritis buildup of the facet joints that are causing the stiffness and pain. Our board-certified surgeons+ will then deaden the surrounding nerves in the immediate area to help prevent future pain at the site of the joint. Reach out to our dedicated team so we can evaluate your condition to see if you are a candidate for one of our minimally invasive facet disease procedures.
