Neck pain can make everyday life hard. If your neck hurts when you move, turn your head, or look down, it may be coming from your facet joints. At 5th Avenue Wellness Medicine, we offer Cervical Facet Joint Injections to help reduce pain and improve how your neck feels and moves.
What Is a Cervical Facet Joint Injection?
A Cervical Facet Joint Injection is a quick and simple procedure used to treat neck pain. The injection is given near the small joints in your neck, called facet joints. These joints help your neck move, bend, and turn. When they become inflamed or irritated, they can cause pain, stiffness, and discomfort.
The injection includes two types of medicine—a numbing medicine for fast relief, and a steroid to reduce swelling over time. This treatment helps confirm if the facet joints are the source of your pain and also works to ease that pain so you can move more comfortably.
What Causes Pain That Needs a Cervical Facet Joint Injection?
Your facet joints can become painful due to:
- Arthritis or aging
- Whiplash or past neck injuries
- Poor posture or repeated neck strain
When these joints are irritated, they can cause:
- Neck stiffness
- Pain when turning or bending your neck
- Headaches
- Pain that spreads to your upper back or shoulders
Who Should Consider a Cervical Facet Joint Injection?
You might be a good fit for this treatment if:
- You have chronic neck pain that doesn’t go away
- Moving your head makes the pain worse
- Pain spreads to your upper back or arms
- Other treatments haven’t helped
This injection helps confirm the pain source—and gives relief at the same time.
How to Prepare for Your Cervical Facet Joint Injection
Here’s how to get ready for your appointment:
- Don’t eat or drink anything for 6 hours before your visit
- Tell us about any medications you’re taking
- Bring someone to drive you home—you won’t be able to drive after the injection
Our team will explain everything ahead of time to make sure you feel ready and at ease.
What Happens During a Cervical Facet Joint Injection?
- You’ll lie down on a procedure table
- We clean the skin and numb the area
- Using X-ray guidance, we place a small needle near the joint
- We inject a mix of numbing medicine and steroid
The whole procedure usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and is done in-office.
What to Expect After a Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Some people feel relief right away
- Others notice improvement in a day or two
- You may feel sore or stiff where the injection was given
- Rest for the rest of the day
- Most people return to normal activities the next day
We’ll check in and help you plan your next steps based on how you feel.
How Long Does Relief from a Cervical Facet Joint Injection Last?
- Relief may last from a few days to a few months
- Some people may need a second injection
- If it works well, we may suggest a longer-lasting option like Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Everyone’s pain is different. We’ll create a treatment plan that works for you.
What If the Cervical Facet Joint Injection Doesn’t Work?
If this treatment doesn’t give enough relief, we have other options:
- Physical therapy
- Medications for pain or swelling
- Nerve blocks or RF ablation
- Surgery, if all else fails
We’re here to help you find the right solution.
Find Out If a Cervical Facet Joint Injection Is Right for You
Don’t let neck pain slow you down. A Cervical Facet Joint Injection may be the first step toward feeling better.
To begin, give us a call or make an online appointment. Relief may be just one visit away.
Cervical Facet Joint Injection – FAQs
It feels like a short pinch, according to most people. We numb the area first, so the injection is usually easy to handle.
The entire visit usually takes about 30 minutes, including preparation and a short recovery period.
Some people feel relief the same day. Others may notice improvement within 1 to 2 days after the injection.
It feels like a short pinch, according to most people. Serious side effects are rare, but we’ll monitor you just to be safe.
Sometimes one injection is enough, but some patients may need a second shot or a longer-lasting treatment like Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA).