Facet Joint Disorder

The spinal column is fascinatingly complex. It supports our weight while being able to bend and contains gaps to allow our nerves to pass through. But all that complexity means that it can also easily degenerate, and when it does, a person may suffer everything from soreness to inflammation and radiating pain. At the Carrollton chiropractic office of Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete), we’re experienced providers of holistic, minimally invasive treatment for back pain. But the best treatment includes a healthy lifestyle, which is why we want our patients to understand what facet joint disorder is and how to prevent it.

Our spinal columns are made up of individual bones called vertebrae. In between the flat bodies of the vertebrae are connective spongy discs, but the vertebrae are also connected by interlocking protuberances in back called facet joints. Like joints in the limbs, facet joints are cushioned by cartilage and encapsulated in lining that produces lubricating synovial fluid. Cartilage and synovial tissue are both vulnerable to breaking down, particularly if the joints are overburdened or a vertebra is subluxated, meaning slightly out of place. When facet joints degenerate, they may cause “hot spots” at the site of the degeneration, or trigger swelling that could cause the impingement of a nearby nerve or blood vessel.

There are several means of providing safe pain relief to people with facet joint disorders, but all of them complement keeping the spine aligned and strengthening the soft tissues that support it. Vertebrae that have been adjusted back into place are much less likely to experience wear, and good posture will ease much of the burden on cartilage and synovium. We also provide several means of reducing swelling, including electric muscle stimulation and low level laser therapy.

Dr. Peter Lazarnick is located at 486 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, Georgia, 30117. To schedule an appointment, call 770-832-2226 or visit www.askdrpete.com.

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